Chairman:

I thank Professor Sonia Seneviratne. I will start with some questions before I go to members of the committee. The IPCC's latest report suggests the world needs to get to zero global emissions by 2050 for us to stabilise at 1.5° Celsius. Ireland's long-term national policy position is for a reduction of at least 80% in emissions across the energy, built environment and transport sectors, and for carbon neutrality in agriculture and land use by 2050. In May of this year, the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, indicated that Ireland is projected to fall far short of our 2020 targets and that, at best, we will achieve 1%. With that in mind, do the witnesses believe that Ireland's national policy of at least 80% reductions across these key sectors, and carbon neutrality in agriculture and land use, is compatible with the IPCC report with regard to achieving a reduction of 1.5° Celsius? Should we revise our targets? Given we currently way off course for 2050, where should our level of ambition be for 2030 if we are to really try to achieve these targets?

On a practical level, what are the key opportunities for Ireland in regard to reducing our emissions? Can the witnesses highlight two or three technologies and solutions that Ireland could adopt at scale to have an immediate impact on reaching those targets? What tax and policy framework would be needed to introduce those technologies and solutions at scale? Are there other countries that do this well? For example, there is the issue of retrofitting residential homes, for which there is a great deal of appetite among citizens, although cost is an issue. How do other countries finance this? The Government can finance some of this but it cannot pay for everything. Have models worked in other countries whereby the private homeowners could finance the deep retrofitting of their homes? Do the witnesses have practical examples or suggestions for us to lay out a pathway, given we will write a report in January? The suggestions may not work in an Irish context but it would be interesting to hear of other countries that do this well.