Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Byrne made very cogent points. There is a whole-of-government approach to this issue. Changes to the climate system as a result of human activity have already resulted in an observed global average temperature increase of more than 1°C since pre-industrial times. That goes without saying. Further increases in global average temperatures are projected to cause significant impacts in Ireland and globally, especially in countries more exposed and less able than we are to withstand these impacts. The Government is committed to addressing this crisis by reducing our national carbon emissions to achieve our climate goal and by responding coherently to climate risks.

In line with Article 4 of the Paris Agreement and Article 15 of the EU regulation on the governance of the energy union and climate action, Ireland has set out a strategy to reach our 2050 climate action targets and has specified sector-specific pathways to reach these targets. A substantial increase in climate ambition was set out in the 2020 programme for Government, Our Shared Future, including new legislation providing for a 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and to achieve climate neutrality by no later than the end of 2050. It also set out a wide range of policies to achieve this target and affirmed the Government’s commitment to place social justice at the heart of the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Adaptation, as part of this transition, is not achieved by a one-time response to the impacts of climate change. Adaptation is an ongoing process that must evolve to meet climate challenges as our knowledge increases. The new draft national adaptation framework, when finalised following the current public consultation, will set out the coherent principles, strategy and governance for moving to a climate-resilient Ireland over the next five years.