Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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979. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a cost-benefit analysis has been undertaken on the estimated cost of net carbon reduction in circumstances in which exploited wetlands have been restored to ecosystem function through drainage management and rewetting as referred to in section 6.3.3 of the 2019 greenhouse gas emissions national inventory report of the EPA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4297/20]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Wetlands play a vital role, inter alia, in mitigating climate change effects. Greenhouse gas emissions and removals associated with land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF), as reported in Ireland’s National Inventory Report prepared by the EPA, include wetlands. While such emissions are not currently accounted for in relation to the calculation of compliance with Ireland’s emissions targets in the period to 2020, from 2021 onwards these emissions will be integrated into the EU framework for compliance with national emissions targets. It is, therefore, essential that Ireland has robust policies in place to manage emissions and enhance removals from this LULUCF category.

This is recognised in the 2019 Climate Action Plan, which includes measures to develop and better manage our carbon sinks, including the following measures:

- Restore/rewet all raised bogs designated as Special Areas of Conservation and Natural Heritage Areas within three cycles of the National Raised Bog Special Areas of Conservation Management Plan 2017 - 2022;

- Upgrade land-use and habitat mapping systems to establish the baseline condition of wetlands and inform the development of best-practice guidelines for wetland management;

- Ensure robust reporting and accounting of the emissions impact to meet relevant international reporting requirements (under the National Land Cover and Habitat Mapping Programme);

- Develop further measures to help rehabilitate exploited and degraded peatlands, including as part of national land-use planning and the new Common Agricultural Policy, and recognising that strategies may need to differ between regions;

- Undertake further research to assess the potential to sequester, store and reduce emissions of carbon through the management, restoration and rehabilitation of peatlands as outlined in the National Peatlands Strategy, which is under the aegis of the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.