Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 4 October 2018

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action

Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion

2:00 pm

Mr. Graham Doyle:

That would be fine.

That is the 2050 target. As we look at the elements of meeting the target, there are a couple of components. There is the modal shift piece, which we have talked about a little bit, technology and standards, about which we have talked a little bit, the alternative fuels piece and the work with biofuels that has made a significant difference and behavioural change in terms of how we travel, how we drive if we drive and, most importantly in that space, whether we can replace the need to drive with other modes of transport.

It is clear that 78% of emissions in the transport sector are in the space of the private car and freight.

Within that timeframe, we can see the significant technology changes that are scheduled and in that sense I think it is realistic. The difficulty and challenge we are finding is in meeting the targets in the intervening period. While we know those technologies are coming and that the longer-term vision is achievable and feasible, we will continue to be obliged to work through the challenges of milestones in the meantime. In many ways, that will be the hardest part.

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