Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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65. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the degree to which he has identified the most important issues and targets to be met in respect of reduction of emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16202/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Programme for Government sets out our ambition to halve our carbon emissions over the course of the decade. The action we take in the coming years will be critical in order to address the climate crisis, which threatens our safe future on this planet.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency ’s (EPA’s) National Inventory Report 2020, Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions reduced by 1% between 2016 and 2018. The EPA's projections for 2019 -2040, published this month, indicate our 2020 emissions could be 2-4% below 2005 levels. It is clear that Ireland will miss its 2020 target, and will need to avail of flexibilities in order to comply.

However, this is the first round of emissions projections that takes into account more recent policy developments, and shows that if these policies are fully implemented, Ireland will meet its current legally binding EU 2030 emissions target, and put us on the right trajectory to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

As Minister for Climate Action, I will lead on delivering our shared commitment to achieve an average 7% per annum reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions from 2021 to 2030, and to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. The 2050 target will be set out in the Climate Action Bill, which I will introduce in the Dáil within the first 100 days of government.

With the increased scale and depth of this ambition, new strategies will be needed to sustain a reduction trajectory that will increase over time. I will work with colleagues across government to develop a new Climate Action Plan before year end, with additional initiatives in every sector to bring about the significant change needed to transform our society.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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66. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which he expects that Ireland can compete with all other European countries in the area of carbon reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16203/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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According to the Environmental Protection Agency ’s (EPA’s) National Inventory Report 2020, Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions reduced by about 1% between 2016 and 2018. The EPA projections, 2019-2040, published earlier this month indicate our 2020 emissions could be 2-4% below 2005 levels, and it is clear that Ireland will miss its 2020 target, and will need to avail of flexibilities in order to comply. Covid-19 will undoubtedly impact our 2020 emissions, and this is not reflected in these projections.

However, this is the first round of emissions projections that take into account more recent policy developments, and shows that if these policies are fully implemented, Ireland will meet its current legally binding EU 2030 emissions target, and put us on the right trajectory to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

The Programme for Government sets out our commitment to further increase our ambition, and halve our national carbon emissions over the course of the coming decade. The action we take in the coming years will be critical in order to address the climate crisis, which threatens our safe future on this planet. As Minister for Climate Action, I will lead on delivering our shared commitment to achieve an average 7% per annum reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions from 2021 to 2030, and to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. The 2050 target will be set in law in the Climate Action Bill, which I will introduce in the Dáil within the first 100 days of government.

With the increased scale and depth of this ambition, new strategies will be needed to sustain a reduction trajectory that will increase over time. I will work with colleagues across government to develop a new Climate Action Plan before year end, with additional initiatives in every sector to bring about the significant change needed to transform our society.