Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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173. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which continued success can be reported in regard to meeting Ireland’s emission reduction targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46022/22]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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177. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which Ireland’s emissions have been reduced in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46026/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 173 and 177 together.

Recent reports of provisional data from the EPA have indicated that Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions increased by 4.7% in 2021 compared to 2020 and are now 1.1% above 2019 pre-COVID restriction levels. The EPA’s report is a strong reminder of the challenges Ireland faces as we seek to meet our ambitious, yet necessary, climate objectives and emission targets.

Notwithstanding an anticipated increase in emissions in 2021 as the country emerged from the most severe Covid-19 restrictions, we must consider how to accelerate the measures and actions that will not only reduce our emissions, but will also support new ways of conducting business and encouraging innovation. To reverse the current trajectory of emissions and meet our 2030 and 2050 targets, a significant shift is required in the speed at which we roll-out and ramp-up up the policies, measures and actions that will decarbonise our economy and improve our indigenous supply of sustainable and renewable energy. The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021, significantly strengthens the legally binding framework for climate governance in Ireland, and the recently approved sectoral emission ceilings set out a clear pathway for meeting our carbon budgets and Ireland’s commitment to a 51% reduction in emissions by 2030. These ceilings will be reflected in the next Climate Action Plan, which is due to be published by the end of 2022.

This Climate Action Plan will build on the 2021 Plan and set out the policies, measures and actions to keep us within our carbon budgets and on the pathway to a zero-emissions economy by no later than 2050. The process to deliver this new Climate Action Plan will include my Department engaging with other Government Departments, State Agencies and civil society to identify opportunities for accelerating climate action.