Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I also am happy to see climate protestors on the street. The voices of young people are often lost and what we hear instead are the reactionary forces against any climate actions we try to bring in. To see people cheering and going out to prove they care is motivating.

Finalised emissions data for 2022 are not yet available but recent reports have indicated that Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions increased in 2021 and may also have increased in 2022 as we emerged from Covid-19 restrictions. The EPA’s models for projected emissions do not take into account all policies and measures which have been committed to in our climate action plans, and these reports suggest a concerning trend, which underlines the urgency with which we must respond to the climate crisis. To reverse the current trajectory of emissions and meet our 2030 and 2050 targets, we have to accelerate the implementation of policies that will not only decarbonise our economy and improve our indigenous supply of sustainable and renewable energy but we also have to support new ways of conducting business and encouraging innovation.

The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021, significantly strengthens climate governance in Ireland and the sectoral emissions ceilings set out a clear pathway for meeting our carbon budgets, as well as Ireland’s commitment to a 51% reduction in emissions by 2030. These ceilings are reflected in the Climate Action Plan 2023, which was published on 21 December 2022. The 2023 plan builds on the 2021 plan and sets out the policies, measures and actions needed to keep us within our carbon budgets and on the pathway to a climate-neutral economy no later than 2050. I note the establishment of climate delivery task forces to accelerate and drive delivery in a number of key areas regarding our climate action including offshore renewable wind energy, heating and the built environment and sustainable transport. These will serve to support our focus on accelerating the implementation of meaningful and impactful climate action.

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