Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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104. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has identified the main categories for new ambition beyond the existing Climate Action Plan in order to achieve the enhanced target of 51% greenhouse gas reduction by 2030. [12893/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As set out in the Programme for Government, we are committed to an average 7% per annum reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions from 2021 to 2030, equivalent to a 51% reduction over the decade and to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, in line with EU ambitions.  I am currently working with colleagues across Government on a new Climate Action Plan which will include additional policies and measures in every sector to bring about the significant changes needed to transform our society. Preparation of the plan will involve extensive and ongoing collaboration with Government Departments and Bodies and consultation with the public. I will launch a public consultation on the new plan in the coming weeks.

There are several categories under which our climate ambition will need to be delivered:

- identifying actions/measures undelivered from the Climate Action Plan 2019;

- proposing actions that naturally fall out of the work of Climate Action Plan 2019;

- examining actions and commitments contained in the Programme for Government; and

- outlining possible additional sectoral actions/measures.

As with the Climate Action Plan 2019, the new plan will have a strong focus on implementation, including actions with specific timelines and steps needed to achieve each action and assigning clear lines of responsibility for delivery. Implementation of the Climate Action Plan will be monitored closely and the plan will be updated annually to adjust and refocus existing actions and set out new policy actions to ensure we remain on track and within our emission limits.