Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2021 commits Ireland to a climate neutral economy no later than 2050 and a reduction in emissions of 51% by 2030. Climate Action Plan 2024 (CAP 24) was approved by Government in December. The plan and its accompanying annex of actions are open for public consultation until 5 April. If anyone wishes to make a submission or observation on it or the Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment, they can.

CAP24 sets out the basis for Ireland’s approach to meeting the carbon budgets, and the associated sectorial emissions ceilings, for the periods 2021-2025 and 2026-2030. The limits set by these budgets underpin the modelling used in the drafting of CAP24 and its predecessor Climate Action Plan 2023 (CAP23). This includes the industry sector.

The pathways detailed in CAP 23 were largely based on analytical work produced by my Department, but incorporating work from other Departments and Agencies. This includes relevant EU and international studies and research.

In CAP 24, these pathways have been enhanced as new data and expertise became available. This enabled policy makers to ensure that climate efforts are optimised to deliver both emissions reductions and socioeconomic benefits. Additionally, preparations included a call for expert evidence through which industry experts offered evidence-based submissions on the plan.

More practically, there are several supports set out in CAP24 to businesses to assist them in making the green transition, including:

• Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland’s support for their clients on decarbonising their operations while continuing to facilitate growth
• The Green Transition Fund is part of Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan. It has two streams, the Enterprise Emissions Reduction Investment Fund (€30 million) and the Climate Planning Fund for Business (€25 million)
• The Enterprise Emissions Reduction Investment Fund targets manufacturing companies using fossil fuels and incentivises them to adopt carbon abatement technologies in their processes
• The Climate Planning Fund for Business is targeted at companies of different sizes and at different stages of engagement, to support them in accelerating their awareness of carbon abatement opportunities; building decarbonisation capabilities; and putting in place sustainability plans
• The SEAI also offers a range of initiatives and supports to improve business energy efficiency. These include Government-funded EXEED and Support Scheme for Renewable Heat

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Climate change is expected to have diverse and wide-ranging negative impacts on Ireland’s environment, society, and economic development, including on the built environment, managed and natural ecosystems, water resources, agriculture and food security, human health, and coastal zones.

Climate adaptation is the process of adjustment to actual or expected climate change and its effects. My Department leads and coordinates national climate adaptation policy, primarily through the development and implementation of the National Adaptation Framework (NAF, 2018). Adaptation measures aim to build the resilience of our economy and society to the impacts of climate change. Adaptation measures also have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and deliver mitigation co-benefits (rewetting of peatlands, nature based flood relief measures, sustainable forestry, sustainable planning policies, etc.).

The Climate and Low Carbon Development Acts 2015 to 2021 requires that the NAF be reviewed at least every five years. Following a 2022 review of the 2018 NAF, I approved the review report which recommended the development of a new NAF. My Department engaged with key adaptation sectors, the EPA and the Climate Change Advisory Council to develop the new NAF which I approved for a statutory consultation in January 2024.

A statutory public consultation on the draft NAF took place between 19 January 2024 and 19 February 2024. Submissions received from the public consultation and from the Climate Change Advisory Council are now being considered ahead of a new NAF being submitted to Government for approval.