Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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196. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason that community growing initiatives are not included in the current Climate Action Plan 2021; if community gardens, growing initiatives and allotments or any level of community food growing will be included in the 2022 Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38835/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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In July 2021, the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 was enacted, significantly strengthening the statutory framework for governance of the climate challenge. This new framework includes the delivery of successive Climate Action Plans.

Climate Action Plans must set out the measures and implementation pathways for reaching our 2030 and 2050 emissions targets, as well as including specific timelines and assigning responsibilities for implementation. All Climate Action Plans have been, and will continue to be, prepared through a collaborative process with engagement and inputs from all relevant Government Departments and Agencies.

In addition, the National Dialogue on Climate Action (NDCA) is actively engaging with stakeholders and the public on climate action across Ireland, enabling and empowering people at a local and national level.

In 2021, my Department launched ‘Climate Conversations’ which engaged with 4,000 people through interviews, focus groups and an online survey. The findings of these conversations have informed the Climate Conversations 2022 and will inform the Climate Action Plan 2023. We recently launched the Public Consultation element of the Climate Conversation 2022 (CC22). This consultation runs until 9 September 2022 and can be found here - Climate Conversations 2022 (www.gov.ie/en/consultation/0de7f-climate-conversation-climate-action-plan-2022/). I look forward to the engagement of these communities in having their say and input into future climate plans.