Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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544. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the expert advice he has sought and received in regard to the likely impact of aviation growth internationally on the achievement of the Paris Agreement temperature goals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14848/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The Paris Agreement (COP21) of December 2015 makes very clear commitments to combat climate change globally, in particular to limit the global temperature increase to well below 2 degrees Celsius whilst pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees.

Ireland faces a significant challenge to meet its international greenhouse gas reduction commitments in line with the Paris Agreement and the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015. In order for Ireland to effectively and equitably contribute to the EU emissions reduction commitments, an ambitious low-carbon development strategy is being developed. My Department is working closely with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (DCCAE) and the Department of Agriculture to prepare our National Mitigation Plan. Transport will, of course, have to play a significant role in the national mitigation effort. Aviation emissions are specifically excluded from the mitigation effort and from the Paris Agreement on the basis of a commitment made in the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to implement a global scheme to offset and reduce emissions from international aviation.

An historic agreement was reached at the 39th International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Assembly in September 2016 to implement such a global scheme. Ireland, along with the other 43 states of the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) has made a commitment to take part in the ICAO global offsetting scheme from its first phase from 2021. In the meantime, Ireland is also a participant in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU-ETS) which has included aviation since 2012.  Ireland is also committed to pursuing a number of measures specifically for aviation under the Action Plan for Aviation Emissions Reduction 2015-2019.

While international aviation accounts for less than 2% of all global emissions, it is recognised that the growth of demand for air travel worldwide requires a comprehensive approach to address CO2 emissions. In that context ICAO is promoting a basket of measures to address emissions which includes ensuring progress on aircraft technology, operational improvements in the air and on the ground at airports and in encouraging the development and deployment of low-carbon sustainable alternative fuels. 

My Department will continue to work with ICAO and within the EU, in conjunction with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, to ensure that initiatives at national and European level contribute effectively to the international effort to achieve the Paris Agreement temperature goals.