Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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124. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans in place to control the carbon output of large corporations. [35081/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Emissions from large industry in Ireland are regulated through the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). The EU ETS works on the 'cap and trade' principle. A cap is set on the total amount of certain greenhouse gases that can be emitted by installations covered by the system. The cap is reduced over time so that total emissions fall. In 2030, emissions from sectors covered by the EU ETS will be cut by 43% from 2005 levels. In Ireland, our EU ETS sector accounts for 25% of our emissions, with the remaining 75% in the non-EU ETS sector. This compares to an EU average of 39% ETS and 61% non-EU ETS. Under the European Green Deal, the Commission presented in September 2020 an impact assessed plan to increase the EU’s greenhouse gas emission reduction target to at least 55% by 2030. By June 2021, the Commission will present legislative proposals to implement the new target, including revising and possibly expanding the EU ETS.

The Climate Action Plan published in June 2019 establishes ambitious targets for the enterprise sector and commits to a range of actions which will reduce the sector’s emissions. The plan includes a set of actions to ensure our enterprise agencies prioritise decarbonisation as part of their strategies.

The Programme for Government commits to devising a systematic programme of sectoral audits of the commercial and industrial sector to underpin, area by area, strategies to meet the new national climate targets. These will be developed in consultation with relevant stakeholders in those sectors to meet targets consistent with our national climate objectives.

In addition, the commitments in the Programme for Government which develop our energy system will directly impact the decarbonisation of our enterprise sector, including the target for 70% renewable electricity by 2030. These actions will also present new areas of opportunity for industry, such as the development of offshore renewables and introduction of new technologies.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland will have a key role in supporting industry to drive decarbonisation through measures to enable businesses reduce their energy use and emissions. Measures currently in place include, the Excellence in Energy Efficient Design programme, the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat, and a range of supports to companies in the Large Industry Energy Network.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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125. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which he and his Department are progressing climate change issues with particular reference to the reduction of carbon emissions and the development of the alternative energy sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35092/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The next ten years are critical if we are to address the climate crisis which threatens our safe future on this planet. 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 2050 target will be set in law by the Climate Action Bill, which will drive the implementation of a suite of policies that will help achieve the Programme for Government's goal of a 7% yearly reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and achieving net zero emissions by 2050.  The finalisation of the Bill is a key part of our journey towards achieving the 7% annual reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The next iteration of the Climate Action Plan will identify and set out the far reaching policy changes across every sector to deliver these emissions reductions. The Programme for Government provides that a reliable supply of safe, secure and clean energy is essential in order to deliver a phase-out of fossil fuels. The Government is committed to the rapid decarbonisation of the energy sector and will take the necessary action to deliver at least 70% renewable electricity by 2030. 

The 2019 Climate Action Plan included a commitment to deliver at least 3.5GW of offshore wind by 2030, up to 8.2GW of onshore wind, and up to 1.5GW of solar. The Programme for Government commits to a further increase in offshore wind deployment to 5 GW by 2030.

Ireland’s National Energy and Climate Plan sets out estimated trajectories by renewable energy technology in order to achieve the overall and sectoral trajectories for renewable energy from 2021 to 2030. These technology levels are indicative, and for electricity the level of each technology will be driven by technology costs and competitive auctions under the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) as well as major private sector funding through Corporate Power Purchase Agreements. The results of the first RESS auction were approved by Government in September 2020, which consisted of 479MW of onshore wind energy projects and 796MW of solar energy projects.