Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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128. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which provision has been made to date to address the issue of carbon emissions; his targets in this regard; if they are in line with global and European targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4045/15]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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131. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the current position in regard to Ireland’s response to EU or other international agreements in relation to climate change; if a progressive plan has been formulated to address any issues arising with a view to ensuring that no damage is done in the context of economic recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4049/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 128 and 131 together.

Ireland is on course to comply with its greenhouse gas emission reduction target for the purposes of the Kyoto Protocol in the commitment period 2008 to 2012. The Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol, which establishes a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol from 201 3 to 202 0, was agreed in 2012 but has not yet entered into fo rce. Ireland has completed the necessary domestic acceptance procedures in relation to the Doha Amendment and will be in a position to formally accept it in the thirdquarter of 2015.

For each year between 2013 and 2020, Ireland has an ambitious greenhouse gas emission reduction target under the 2009 EU Effort-Sharing Decision (406/2009/EC).

Furthermore, in October 2014, the European Council endorsed a binding EU target of an at least 40% domestic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels and specified that the target will be delivered collectively by the EU in the most cost-effective manner possible, with the reductions in the ETS and non-ETS sectors amounting to 43% and 30% by 2030 compared to 2005, respectively. While the specific details of the contribution to be made by each Member State remain to be defined, the Council agreed that all Member States will participate in this effort, balancing considerations of fairness and solidarity.

The extent of the challenge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, in line with our EU and international commitments, is well understood by Government, as reflected in the National Policy Position on Climate Action and Low-Carbon Development, published in April 2014, and in the Climate Action and Low-Carbon Development Bill 2015, published last week. The National Policy Position provides a high-level policy direction for the adoption and implementation by Government of plans to enable the State to move to a low-carbon economy by 2050. Proposed statutory authority for the plans is set out in the Climate Action and Low-Carbon Development Bill 2015.

In anticipation of enactment of the planned legislation, work is already underway on developing a low-carbon plan - the National Mitigation Plan, the primary objective of which will be to track implementation of measures already underway and identify additional measures within the longer term to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and progress the overall national low carbon transition agenda to 2050. I am satisfied that Ireland is on course to comply with the annual mitigation targets under the 2009 EU Effort-Sharing Decision (406/2009/EC) in the first half of the 2013-2020 compliance period.

However, there will be a significant compliance challenge in the years 2017-2020 and therefore the first iteration of the National Mitigation Plan will place particular focus on putting the necessary measures in place to address this particular challenge in the years 2017 to 2020 but also in terms of planning ahead to be ensure that appropriate policies and measures will be in place beyond that. It is also important to note that the Bill will provide for long-term successive planning in this respect.

2015 will also be a pivotal year in terms of the international response to climate change, with all 196 Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change working to conclude a new global agreement in Paris in December. The Paris outcome will build on existing agreements and chart a course for future global emissions reductions. Ireland, through the EU, will play its part in these negotiations and the globally agreed actions arising. The October 2014, European Council commitment will be the basis of the EU ’sintended nationally-determined contribution to the new agreement.

On economic considerations, the National Policy Positionclearly identifies competitiveness as a pillar of the fundamental national objective on transition to a low-carbon economy by 2050. The National Policy Position also sets out a number of key issues for consideration in the on-going evolution of national climate policy, including:

(i) the need to ensure that objectives are achieved at the least cost to the national economy and that any measures adopted to achieve those objectives are cost-effective, and do not impose an unreasonable burden on the Exchequer; and

(ii) the need to take advantage of environmentally sustainable economic opportunities both within and outside the State.

The Climate Action and Low-Carbon Development Bill 2015also includes provisions to statutorily underpin these and other key economic considerations, to be taken into account in the development of the mitigation and adaptation plans to be adopted by the Government for the purpose of progressing the national transition agenda.