Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Climate Action Plan (CAP) 2021makes clear the need to reduce fossil-fueled passenger vehicle kilometres by at least 10%, to support a 51% emissions reduction for the transport sector, by 2030. This 10% target is also included in my Department's recently published Sustainable Mobility Policy (SMP), which aims to reduce demand for private car journeys in general by making it easier for people to travel via more sustainable modes – be that walking, cycling or public transport. In tandem with other suitable demand management measures and the electrification of the national passenger fleet, this shift to more sustainable modes will help to deliver on the 10% km reduction target.

With regard to reduction targets for kilometres driven by electric vehicles (EVs), such targets would not be impactful in terms of decarbonizing the transport sector, given that EVs have zero tailpipe emissions. Rather, incentives aimed at encouraging people to replace their fossil-fueled cars with EVs will help to increase the rate of EV penetration and commensurately reduce the level of emissions in the sector.

However, as the deputy will also be aware, there are a number of benefits which can be associated with reducing private car ownership and use, regardless of their fuel type, and particularly in urban areas. These include enhanced livability for residents; increased permeability of the urban space; noise and pollution reduction; reduced traffic congestion; increased road safety; an environment more amenable to active travel choices; and a higher degree of equity among transport users across all modes.

With that in mind, my Department is undertaking work across several areas aimed at reducing the demand for private car journeys overall. In December 2021, it published the Five Cities Demand Management Study, which aimed to identify transport demand drivers in Dublin, Cork, Waterford, Limerick and Galway, and to assess the impact and suitability of an array of different demand management measures for each city. The study focused on addressing decarbonization, air quality, congestion and improving the overall urban environment. A key conclusion of this study is that there is no single solution to tackling the transport demand challenges facing our urban environments. Rather, utilizing an integrated Travel Demand Management approach to policy development, planning and delivery of our land use and transport systems will be fundamental to addressing these challenges in the coming years.

In line with our Climate Action Plan commitments, my Department, the NTA, the Regional Assemblies and other bodies are continuing to engage to identify a pathway for the implementation of suitable demand management measures at national and local level, and to advancing these measures by 2025.

Coupled with the work being carried out under the Sustainable Mobility Policy, these efforts will serve to reduce the number of kilometres driven by passenger cars - firstly by causing people to consider an alternative form of transport, and secondly by making it easier for them to choose more sustainable options such as walking, cycling, or public transport.

Finally, the preparation of Climate Action Plan 2023will commence shortly and will require engagement among all departments and agencies up to September 2022, before the Climate Action Plan is submitted to Government for approval in November 2022. It is therefore too early to preempt any changes to targets for the Climate Action Plan 2023, which may otherwise be determined following these engagements.