Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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In June 2022, with work on the sectoral emissions ceilings almost complete, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its latest emissions projections, showing net Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) emissions as being projected to rise from 7 to 11 MtCO2eq. in 2030; and 2018 base year emissions having changed from 4.8 to 6.3 MtCO2eq. For this reason, it was decided at the time to defer finalising the LULUCF sectoral emissions ceiling to coincide with the Land-use Review. In March 2023 Phase 1, the evidential phase, of the Land-use Review was published. The second phase has commenced, and it will seek to optimise land use across key Government objectives of improving socioeconomic, climate, biodiversity, water, and air quality outcomes for land use, landowners and land users.

With regard to emissions from the sector and their management, officials from my Department, in partnership with officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, and technical experts from the EPA, Teagasc, Office of Public Works, National Parks and Wildlife Service and across the sector have been working to improve our shared understanding on the sector’s metrics. This was done with the intention of submitting a proposal to Government as part of Climate Action Plan 2024 (CAP 24). CAP 24 shall be published this year.