Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

58. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will commission a study to examine the impact on CO2 emissions of the delivery and production of one million electric vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12056/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The European Commission has put forward a proposal to revise the existing CO₂Standards Regulation to align it with the ambition of the EU Climate Law. It will put in place stronger CO₂emissions standards for cars and vans to accelerate the transition to zero-emission mobility by requiring manufacturers, on a fleet-wide basis, to reduce the average emissions of cars and vans they produce.

Under the proposal, average emissions of new cars should be reduced by 55% from 2030 and 100% from 2035 compared to 2021 levels. For new vans, the net reduction targets would be 50% and 100% respectively. As a result, all new cars and vans registered as of 2035 in the EU will be zero-emission.

The proposal would also remove the ZLEV (zero- and light-emission vehicle) incentive scheme after 2030. This is part of the existing Regulation and allows manufacturers that produce more ZLEVs additional leeway in their overall target. It is expected that, at this stage, the market uptake of ZLEVs will be driven by the stricter CO2 targets applicable from 2030 rather than any incentive mechanisms.

Accelerating the transition to low emitting light duty vehicles (LDVs) is paramount to achieving Ireland's emission reduction targets. Emissions from cars and vans in Ireland dominate land transport emissions at 51% and 7% respectively, and Ireland has a national commitment to phase out sales of new petrol/diesel cars by 2030. Wider availability of zero-emission vehicles will provide Irish consumers with greater choice and accelerate the transition to zero-emission mobility.

While the proposed targets are welcome, Ireland is seeking opportunities to accelerate and increase the ambition of the file in recognition that early momentum in this decade is crucial to affect the substantial change required to reach the EU 2030 greenhouse gas emission reduction target and commitments made under the Paris Agreement.

Analysis for the uptake of EVs in Ireland is based on the assumption that Irish car fleet growth between 2020 and 2030 will be at a rate similar to between 2010 and 2020. It is expected that the sale of electric vehicles will displace those of internal combustion engines in the coming years which will replace CO2 emitting vehicles with zero-emission tailpipe equivalents. While EV battery production can result in higher CO2 emissions, as technology improves and more renewable energy sources are deployed globally, I anticipate that the CO2 impacts of battery production will reduce over the coming years.  I also note that Ireland does not have a vehicle-manufacturing sector, so the issue of production does not arise specifically with regard to our national emissions.