Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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220. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason for his view that Ireland should under contribute to the EU Climate Law emissions reduction target for 2030 (details supplied); the reason for his view that the EU 2030 target can be achieved if countries such as Ireland are contributing less; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16780/21]

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 budgetary 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 Environmental Protection 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.

In parallel, Ireland has welcomed and is supportive of the development of a European Climate Law, which will set a legally binding target for Europe’s economy and society to become climate-neutral by 2050. Ireland also fully supports the enhanced ambition at EU level to increase the EU 2030 target to at least 55% emissions reduction compared to 1990 levels. The European Environmental Agency report that the EU27 have reduced their emissions by approximately 23% from 1990 levels, meaning a further reduction in the order of 30% will be required from 2018 emissions levels to meet the new EU target.  

However, it is difficult to provide direct comparisons with the European Climate Law 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.