Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Amendment No. 25 seeks to insert the provision that a circular economy programme shall "reflect the principles of just transition and climate justice”. We have already extensively discussed the issue of the reflection of these two principles in the legislation more broadly. This amendment seeks to say in law that the circular economy programme must reflect the principles of just transition and climate justice. It is not an overly-prescriptive requirement. It is one which would strengthen the legislation both in terms of facilitating an equitable transition and creating a requirement that our circular economy policies align with our international obligations in respect of climate justice both within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCCC, and the Paris Agreement.

Amendment No. 28 is a relatively simple amendment. It seeks to change the timeframe in which the agency must review the circular economy strategy from at least once every six years after the publication of the first strategy to once every three years. Once every six years is too long a timeframe. We should seek to identify problems or issues with the operation of the programme as quickly as possible. We need to be able to do so quickly because we are in a climate emergency and are running out of time.

In April, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change published its Sixth Assessment Report, from working group III. The press release for the interim report stated, "In the scenarios we assessed, limiting warming to around 1.5°C (2.7°F) requires global greenhouse gas emissions to peak before 2025 at the latest, and be reduced by 43% by 2030". As 2025 is just two and half years away, we cannot wait for six years to meaningfully review these provisions. On that basis, I do not believe that even our own amendment goes far enough and I may seek to reduce the period even further to two years on Report Stage. I urge the Minister of State to reflect on this matter and table amendments to reduce the timescale.

Amendment No. 29 is a simple amendment that seeks to include the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action as one of the organisations to which the agency will give a copy of the circular economy programme, once it is published. As this is the relative sectoral committee for this legislation, it is important that the committee be kept informed. On Report Stage, my colleagues and I may table amendments to mandate that the views of the committee be sought when conducting a review.