Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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200. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress made to include reference in all new statements of strategy to all sustainable development goal targets for which his Department has lead responsibility as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals National Implementation Plan 2018-2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25747/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a significant and ambitious policy agenda that concerns all Government Departments.The first National Implementation Plan (2018-2020), published in 2018, set out Ireland’s strategy to achieve the SDGs both domestically and internationally. The Goals are mainstreamed in domestic policy and the governance structure reflects a whole-of-government approach that ensures coordination and coherence, in particular where goals cover areas of shared responsibility.

19 Actions were included in the first National Implementation Plan. Action 4 of the plan set out a commitment to include reference in all new Statements of Strategy to all SDG targets for which a Department has lead responsibility.

The development of the next SDG Implementation Plan has commenced, with the intention of publication later this year. A National Progress report will be incorporated into the Plan and will assess the progress on the 19 Actions, including the commitment set out under Action 4.

My Department's Statement of Strategy 2021-2023 underlines our commitment to coordinate Government action on embedding the SDGs into the programmes and policies of every Department and lead the whole-of-Government effort to foster public awareness and participation around the SDGs. In addition, the Strategy underlines our commitment to drive achievement in respect of the specific goals which we lead on, namely goals 7, ‘Affordable and clean energy’; 12, ‘Responsible consumption and production’; and 13, ‘Climate Action’. The Statement of Strategy 2021-2023 is available online at gov.ie

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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201. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the specific sustainable development goal targets his Department is responsible for implementing; the progress made in implementing those targets since 26 April 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25765/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The first National Implementation Plan (2018-2020), published in 2018, set out Ireland’s strategy to achieve the SDGs both domestically and internationally. An important element of this Plan is the SDG Policy Map and Matrix, which enhances the ability of stakeholders to track Ireland’s implementation of specific SDGs and associated targets, and to assess Ireland’s response to the SDGs for potential policy gaps. It also supports cross-Government engagement in implementing each of the Goals and Targets. This policy map has recently been updated and is available online at gov.ie My Department has responsibility for leading implementation of:- SDG 7 ‘Affordable and clean energy’;- SDG 12 ‘Responsible consumption and production’, with input from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE); and - SDG 13 ‘Climate Action’.

Progress across the three Goals is illustrated below:

Goal 7: Affordable and clean energy

As part of our commitment to reduce emissions by 51% by 2030, and be carbon-neutral by 2050, a number of strategies are being developed by my Department to increase the share of renewable energy used across the residential, industrial, and transport sectors, ensuring affordable and clean energy for all of Irish society. These include:

- the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS);

- residential and community retrofit programmes;

- Micro-generation Support Scheme; and

- a new Solar Energy Strategy.

The Central Statistics Office has prepared a progress report on Goal 7 with the Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland as part of our regular monitoring process, and highlights the progress that Ireland has made on renewable energy in recent years. The report is available on the CSO website at:

Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production

My Department supports a number of programmes and initiatives to underpin the strategic advancement of a circular and sustainable approach to using biological resources.

Published in 2020, the new Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy sets a roadmap for achieving sustainability through shifting focus away from waste disposal to looking at how we can preserve resources by creating a circular economy. A Waste Action Plan Advisory Group has also been established, consisting of relevant stakeholders from the economic, environmental and social sectors. The Group assisted in the compilation of the new policy by guiding strategic thinking and decision making and will assist in implementing the commitments in the Plan.

In April of this year, my Department also launched a public consultation on Ireland’s first Whole-of-Government Circular Economy Strategy. The draft Strategy provides a policy framework for Ireland’s ambition to become one of the leaders in relation to the Circular Economy in Europe. The consultation period will end on 11 June 2021.

Ireland’s annual financial contributions to the Global Environment Facility and to the UN Environment Programme provide support to sustainability projects globally.

Goal 13: Climate action

The Government is 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. A key aspect of delivering on this ambition will be enacting the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill, which will be reinforced by credible on-going policy. The Bill will define how five-year carbon budgets and related sectoral targets will be set, with every sector contributing, while also ensuring we continue to work to achieve a broad political and societal consensus on the transition to a climate neutral economy and society. Putting these requirements in legislation places a clear obligation on this and future governments for sustained climate action.

The annual revision to the Climate Action Plan acts as a further review mechanism and opportunity to re-adjust or refocus actions, if required, to ensure targets are achieved. The Climate Action Plan 2021 will set out the policy, measure and actions that must be taken across every economic sector to ensure we deliver on our increased climate ambition as set out in the Programme for Government.

At an international level, the Department of Foreign Affairs, with the support of my Department and the Department of Finance, are developing a new Climate Finance Strategy, with Ireland having already committed to doubling its annual contribution to the Green Climate Fund from €2 million to €4 million from 2020 onwards.