Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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226. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the annual transition statement for 2020 will be published; and the reason that it has not been published to date. [4320/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Annual Transition Statement (ATS), established under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015, served an important function in providing an overview of climate change mitigation and adaptation policy measures adopted to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to the effects of climate change in order to enable the achievement of Ireland's National Transition Objective. The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021, significantly strengthens the statutory framework for governance of the climate challenge. The new framework ensures delivery of successive Climate Action Plans and Long-term Climate Strategies, supported by a system of carbon budgeting and sectoral targets with appropriate oversight by Government, the Oireachtas and a new Climate Change Advisory Council. Under the 2021 Act, Ministers will have to give an account of their performance in relation to their sectoral targets and actions before an Oireachtas Committee each year. This framework replaces the previous ATS process.

Notwithstanding the changes introduced by the 2021 Act, I intend to publish an ATS for 2020. This ATS will set out information on developments in respect of 2019, as was required under the 2015 Act before it was amended. My Department is currently undertaking the preparation of this Statement through engagement with the relevant stakeholders; it will be published in the coming weeks.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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227. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason that Ireland has not yet submitted a mandatory long-term strategy to the EU due at the beginning of January 2022 as set out in the Climate Action Plan; when he will submit this strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4322/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Ireland's Long-term Climate Action Strategy (LTS) will be completed in quarter one 2022 as set out in the Annex of Actions, published on 14 December last, to support the delivery of the Climate Action Plan 2021.

Ireland prepared a draft of the LTS in 2019 in line with the then climate ambition set out in Ireland’s Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015. However, with the Programme for Government commitment to substantially increase our climate ambition, including our 2050 objective, submission of Ireland’s draft LTS to the European Commission was paused to ensure it fully aligned with our enhanced climate ambition.

In July 2021, Ireland’s Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 was enacted giving legal effect to a 2050 climate neutrality target. The Act also provides for a 51% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2030, compared to 2018 levels, and puts in place a rigorous governance structure, including a requirement for Government to prepare a National Long Term Climate Action Strategy at least once every five-years.

As we finalise Ireland’s LTS, we will ensure that the ambition aligns with our recently legislated for climate targets, as well as making a strong contribution to the overall EU ambition of achieving climate neutrality no later than 2050 and achieving an interim reduction in overall EU greenhouse gas emissions of 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. Similarly, the LTS will support our commitment to the international objective of limiting global warming to 1.5°c relative to pre-industrial levels, as established under the Paris Climate Accords and recently reaffirmed in the Glasgow Climate Pact.

Ireland, as one of several Member States still to submit its Long-term Climate Strategy, has continued to engage with the European Commission on this issue, and has fully appraised the Commission of the approach as set out above.