Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
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94. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his progress in implementing the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015. [21520/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 provides, inter alia, for the approval of climate change mitigation and adaptation plans by Government for the purpose of pursuing the transition to a low carbon, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable economy by 2050; work is progressing in relation to the development of these plans and the pursuit and achievement of the national transition objective. In accordance with section 4 of the 2015 Act, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government must submit a National Mitigation Plan (NMP) to Government for approval by June 2017. The primary objective of the NMP is to track implementation of measures already underway and identify additional actions in the longer term to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and progress the transition agenda to 2050. In line with the requirements of section 4(3)(a) of the 2015 Act, arrangements are currently being made to enable the formal statutory process required to facilitate the preparation of the first NMP. Notwithstanding this statutory process, work has been underway for some time on the development of the NMP with a draft due to be published for consultation by end 2016.

While climate policy has been, and must continue to be, focussed on limiting greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with our national, EU and international obligations, taking steps to adjust human and natural systems in response to existing or expected climate change so as to prevent or moderate environmental damage or to take advantage of any opportunities that may arise, is also an urgent policy priority. Accordingly, under section 5 of the 2015 Act, the Minister must submit to Government for approval not later than December 2017, a National Adaptation Framework (NAF).

The NAF will specify the national strategy for the application of adaptation measures in different sectors and by local authorities in their administrative areas in order to reduce the vulnerability of the State to the negative effects of climate change and to exploit any beneficial opportunities. The 2015 Act also provides that relevant Ministers will be required to develop sectorial adaptation plans which will specify the adaptation policy measures the Minister in question proposes to adopt.

Given the important role of local government in contributing to this response, my Department is engaging closely with the sector, in collaboration with the EPA, to ensure appropriate guidance is provided and capacity is strengthened. To this end, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources launched the Local Authority Adaptation Strategy Development Guidelinesin May 2016 and a number of follow-up training sessions and workshops will be held over the coming months.

Finally, the Climate Change Advisory Council was established by order on 18 January 2016 under section 8 of the 2015 Act. The Council, which is independent in the performance of its functions, provides advice to Ministers and the Government in respect of climate change matters and has met on several occasions, including during its interim period of operation, pending legal establishment, from June 2015 to January 2016. The Council will in time prepare material to fulfil its annual and periodic reporting functions, as set out under the legislation. To date, it has provided recommendations in relation to the proposal for Phase IV of the Emissions Trading Scheme for the period 2021 to 2030.

Overall, I am satisfied with progress under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015, which provides the institutional framework necessary to allow for the development, approval and implementation of robust mitigation and adaptation policy measures.

I look forward to continuing progress being made under the 2015 Act and this work will be advanced on a whole-of-Government basis by my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources under his newly configured and retitled Department, pending the making of the necessary Government Orders.