Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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658. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the roles the three regional spatial economic strategies under the national planning framework will play in mitigating climate change; and the relationship that will be established with the regional climate change adaptation plans which are to be co-ordinated under different geographical regions of local authorities. [3266/18]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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The draft National Planning Framework, which is currently being finalised by my Department includes national policy objectives, NPOs, reflecting wider Government objectives in relation to climate change. 

These include objectives to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by integrating climate action into the planning system in support of national climate change targets, NPO 56; the promotion of renewable energies at appropriate locations to meet the national transition objectives towards a low-carbon economy by 2050, NPO 57; and support for integrating climate considerations into statutory plans and guidelines.

In addition, each regional assembly will be tasked with preparing a regional spatial and economic strategy, RSES, to further tease out and apply the NPOs at regional levels and for subsequent incorporation into local authority statutory development plans and local plans. The preparation of each of the RSESs will be subject to strategic environmental assessment, SEA, which requires each plan to take full account of relevant EU and national legislative requirements, including in relation to climate change, in accordance with the SEA legislation. 

The national climate adaptation framework, which was launched last week by my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, sets out the context to ensure local authorities, regions and key sectors can assess the main risks and vulnerabilities of climate change, implement climate resilience actions and ensure climate adaptation considerations are mainstreamed into all local, regional and national policy making. The role of spatial planning through the national planning framework will be critical in ensuring successful implementation of the national adaptation framework.

Minister Naughten has also announced a funding commitment of €10 million over five years to establish four local authority regional climate action offices. This commitment recognises the significant obligation which has been placed on the local government sector to develop and implement its own adaptation and mitigation measures as well as the need to build capacity within the sector to engage effectively with climate change.

I understand the proposed regional climate action offices will be operated by a lead local authority in four different regions, grouped according to shared climate change risks. These offices are intended to provide a coherent and coordinated response to climate change at local level, both in terms of adaptation and mitigation and they will also be a key enabler in linking effectively with the new national planning framework.