Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

84. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to outline what increases in emissions reduction targets will be included in the next Climate Action Plan, given the failure to reach previous years' targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50289/23]

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

The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 commits Ireland to a legally binding target of a climate neutral economy no later than 2050, and a reduction in greenhouse emissions of 51% by 2030 compared to 2018 levels. The introduction and adoption, in 2022, of economy-wide carbon budgets and sectoral emissions ceilings has provided more urgent and sector-specific emissions reduction targets set over the 5-year budgetary periods.

The latest emissions reports from the EPA highlight the challenge Ireland faces in meeting its highly ambitious climate objectives and legally-binding emissions targets. While the EPA’s projections show that greenhouse gas emissions are expected to decrease in almost all sectors, it is clear that we still have work to do.

Climate Action Plan 2023 (CAP23), published in December 2022, contained actions and measures which reflected the emissions reduction pathways set out by the budgets and ceilings. The next annual update of the Plan, Climate Climate Action 2024, will build upon CAP23 with updated policies, measures and actions that reflect the latest reports regarding Ireland's emissions.