Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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69. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the findings of an organisation (details supplied) which states that Ireland has managed to reduce its 2020 to 2030 carbon reduction commitments to a mere 0.4% through the exploitation of loopholes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5794/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The Paris Agreement, which entered into force in November 2016, aims to limit global average temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with an ambition of 1.5 degrees Celsius. The Agreement is designed to meet this objective through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) submitted by all parties to the agreement. In this regard, the European Union submitted an NDC committing to a reduction of at least 40% in EU-wide emissions by 2030 compared with 1990 levels, which will be met through reductions of 43% in the Emission Trading System (ETS) and 30% in the non-ETS sector compared with 2005 levels.

A proposal on the non-ETS targets for individual Member States, the Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR), was published by the European Commission in July 2016.  Targets have been proposed for Member States based on GDP per capita, which have then been adjusted to reflect cost-effectiveness. In the case of Ireland a target of 39% has been proposed, which has been adjusted downwards to 30% to reflect cost-effectiveness.

The most recent projections published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in March 2016 provide an updated assessment of Ireland's progress towards achieving its emissions reduction target set out under the current EU Effort Sharing Decision for the years 2013 to 2020. Ireland's 2020 target is to achieve a 20% reduction of non-ETS sector emissions on 2005 levels, with annual binding limits set for each year over the period 2013 to 2020. The Agency published projected emissions for 2020 which indicate that Ireland's emissions at that stage could be in the range of 6% to 11% below 2005 levels, with the likely outcome at the lower end of that range (i.e. 6%). Our reduced investment capacity over the last decade is a contributing factor in the shortfall against the 2020 target, but the primary reason for the shortfall is that the target was simply inappropriate, and very significantly above what it would have been cost-effective for Ireland to contribute to the overall EU 2020 ambition.

Returning to the Commission's 2030 ESR Proposal, it also allows for the mitigation potential of Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF).  Eligible measures which could be included in this regard are predicated on substantial investment by the relevant Member States, including Ireland. The proposal incentivises the promotion of measures to increase forest cover, enhance soil carbon pools and strengthen research relating to agriculture and land use.  The Commission proposal also offers the potential for a one-off transfer of allowances from the ETS to the non-ETS sector. This also involves a cost to the eligible Member States in terms of foregone auctioning revenue. The Commission's  proposal continues to be negotiated at EU level. 

The Government is, of course, keenly aware of the extent of the challenge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with Ireland's EU and international commitments and, in this regard, Ireland's National Policy Position on Climate Action and Low Carbon Development, published in April 2014, and Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015, provide the high-level policy direction and statutory authority for the adoption and implementation by Government of plans to enable the State to move to a low-carbon economy by 2050.  This must be done in a way that is technically feasible, cost-effective and fair. Although, as stated, the challenges to be addressed are significant, the introduction of policies and measures planned as part of the development of Ireland's first National Mitigation Plan (NMP) will provide an important step in addressing these immediate challenges, while also helping to chart a path beyond 2020 and out to 2030.  In recent days I have published a briefing document on the development of the NMP which will help prepare the ground for the statutory consultation to follow in mid-March. It highlights some key questions to be considered in terms of how best to position Ireland in taking this first step in achieving our national transition objectives by 2050.