Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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9. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the percentage reduction when the target to reduce GHG emissions to 29.8 GtCO2e by 2030, a 51% reduction relative to 2018, is expressed relative to 1990 and 2005 baselines. [15996/21]

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.

On 23 March 2021, the Government approved the final text of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill. Under this legislation, the first two carbon budgets proposed by the Climate Change Advisory Council shall provide for a reduction of 51% in the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions over the course of the first two budget periods ending on 31 December 2030, from the annual greenhouse gas emissions reported for the year ending on 31 December 2018, as set out in the national greenhouse gas emissions inventory prepared by the Agency. The legislation, which is a key commitment in the Programme for Government, will now progress through the Houses of the Oireachtas as priority legislation.

The Environmental Protection Agency report Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions for the years 1990 and 2005 as 54.39 MtCO2eq. and 70.24 MtCO2eq respectively, excluding emissions and removals from land-use. While these years are likely to form the basis of the upcoming changes to the EU Climate Policy Framework, it is difficult to provide direct comparisons to the Programme for Government commitment given that:  

- the balance of effort (in achieving the enhanced EU ambition) between the EU-wide ETS and individual Member State targets has not yet been decided;

- many revisions have been proposed to the current architecture; and

- in determining legally binding targets for Member States under the Effort Sharing Regulation, the EU balances technical, economic, equity and political considerations.