Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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195. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will address a recent report (details supplied); the steps Ireland is taking to further address climate change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43425/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, ‘Climate Change 2021: the Physical Science Basis’  confirms the limited window there is to act to prevent devastating impacts from climate change and underlines the increasing urgency of tackling the climate crisis. The Government is fully committed to addressing this challenge. The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 commits Ireland to  achieve a climate neutral economy by no later than 2050, and provides for a 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 (compared to 2018 levels). It also establishes a  significantly strengthened climate governance  framework to support delivery of these targets.

My objective over the coming weeks is to agree an ambitious and comprehensive set of climate actions, through the Climate Action Plan 2021, that will position us to meet our new climate targets. This will mean more renewable energy, decreased transport emissions, changes in how we heat our homes and how we grow our food and look after our land. These steps will be challenging but they will also create new opportunities.International cooperation and coordination is also needed to limit global temperature rises. In this context, I will lead Ireland’s Climate Delegation for COP26. Ireland is committed to engaging constructively in the finalisation of the Paris Rulebook and will also continue to advocate for climate action that is informed by the best available science.