Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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75. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will establish an interdepartmental working group on climate action and biodiversity issues with the effect of coordinating and integrating nature-based solution into climate action policy across relevant Departments including but not limited to the heritage brief within the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the forestry and marine brief within the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and other relevant agencies and bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25147/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Programme for Government recognises that the next ten years are critical if we are to address the climate and biodiversity crises which threaten our safe future on this planet. Nature-based solutions have a key role to play in climate mitigation and adaptation, as well as supporting biodiversity.

In terms of integrating nature-based solutions into climate action specifically, from 2021 onwards, emissions and removals from Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry will be included in the EU Framework for compliance with national emissions targets. Under EU legislation, Ireland will be able to use a limited amount of removals associated with land-based activities, including forestry, in meeting our 2030 emissions reductions target under the Effort Sharing Regulation.

In addition, the Programme for Government recognises that land-use offers significant potential to sequester additional carbon, as well as providing a new source of family farm income and rural economic benefit. While the achievement of such improvements is not addressed in current EU policy, the Programme for Government commits to seeking to incentivise land use in the European Green Deal and broader EU policy. It also commits to evaluating, within 24 months, the potential contributions towards our climate ambition from land-use improvements (which includes forestry, farmlands and peatlands) and set in train the development of a land-use plan, based on these findings. This review will include consideration of emissions to air and water, carbon sequestration, and challenges for climate adaptation. The work on the review will be complemented and supported by a new strategy to expand afforestation, particularly "Close to Nature" forestry and agro-forestry, which will be led by Minister of State Hackett in the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine.

This cross-Government work will be overseen and coordinated by the Cabinet Committee on Environment and Climate Change which I Chair; and which covers environment, climate, water and biodiversity. The Committee will shortly agree a work programme for the remainder of 2020 at its next meeting.

More generally, I look forward to working with my colleagues the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government and Minister of State Malcolm Noonan, who has primary responsibility for biodiversity policy; and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, to deliver on the commitments set out in the Programme for Government in relation to climate action and biodiversity, the achievement of which is vital to the continued health of our society, economy, species and planet.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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76. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way in which he plans to poverty proof and disability proof new climate action legislation going forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25149/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Programme for Government commits to an average 7% per annum reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions from 2021 to 2030 (a 51% reduction over the decade) and to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. The specific purpose of the Climate Action (Amendment) Bill is to strengthen the governance structure in supporting Ireland's response to climate breakdown. The Bill, which the Government committed to introducing into the Dáil within the first 100 days of Government, will:

- Set the 2050 decarbonisation target in law.

- Provide for the adoption of five-year carbon budgets, setting maximum emissions by sector.

- Strengthen the role of the Climate Change Advisory Council, including in relation to proposing appropriate carbon budgets.

In terms of managing the transition to a carbon neutral and resilient society and economy, the Programme for Government recognises that it is vital there is adequate time and effort devoted to working with communities and sectors in designing and delivering the pathway to achieve the goal in a fair way. This will mean creating fresh opportunities for those sectors most exposed by the transition and supporting those in our community who are least equipped to make the changes.

In terms of those in poverty, all additional carbon tax revenue, estimated at €9.5 billion over the next ten years, will be hypothecated into a Climate Action Fund. This Fund will be utilised over the period to:

- Ensure that increases in the carbon tax are progressive by spending €3 billion on targeted social welfare and other initiatives to prevent fuel poverty and ensure a just transition.

- Provide €5 billion to part fund a socially progressive national retrofitting programme targeting all homes but with a particular emphasis on the Midlands region and on social and low-income tenancies.

- Allocate €1.5 billion to a REPS-2 programme to encourage and incentivise farmers to farm in a greener and more sustainable way. This funding will be additional to funding from the Common Agricultural Policy.

The Programme for Government also commits to publishing a Just Transition Plan, to frame the work of the Just Transition Commissioner, and ensuring that financing is available, including through continuing to grow the Just Transition Fund.

More generally, all Government decisions must consider fully their impact on those in poverty and with disabilities. In terms of legislating in the area of disability, policy responsibility for which rest with the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration, the Programme for Government commits to enshrining disability rights by finalising the legislation required following Ireland's recent ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities.