Press release
Minister Ryan launches public consultation on Carbon Budgets
From Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD, has today launched a public consultation on the proposed carbon budget programme, first published by the Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) on 25 October 2021.
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 emissions of 51% by 2030 (compared to 2018 levels).
The Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) has proposed a programme of three successive 5-year carbon budgets to the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to achieve these targets. The proposed budgets specify a cap on the total amount of greenhouse gases that may be emitted in the State during each 5-year period. The emissions caps are measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent and include all greenhouse gases. The first carbon budget programme comprises carbon budgets for the following periods: 2021-2025; 2026-2030 and 2031-2035. The average annual reduction proposed over the first five years is 4.8%, with a 8.3% average for the second period and 3.5% for the final period between 2031 and 2035.
The Minister, in considering the budgets proposed, must consult with other relevant Ministers and with the public. Following consultation, the Minister may amend the proposed carbon budget if appropriate, before presenting the budgets to the Government.
The Minister is now seeking input from the public on the proposed carbon budget programme, to inform the Minister’s recommendation on carbon budgets for Government approval.
The consultation invites the public and interested parties to provide observations and comments on the CCAC’s carbon budget letter to Minister Ryan and/or the associated CCAC Carbon Budget Technical Report published on 25 October 2021. Both documents can be viewed/downloaded at: www.climatecouncil.ie/carbonbudgets.
Minister Ryan said:
"When we passed the Climate Act in July the process of carbon budgeting was embedded into law. This is the first time that we, as a country, will set limits on greenhouse gas emissions for set periods of time. These first carbon budgets are a key milestone – in our collective national effort to combat climate change. This consultation provides an opportunity for the public and all stakeholders to input into this vitally important process."
The consultation will be open until the close of business on 8 February 2022.
ENDS
Section 8 of the Climate and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 established the Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) on a statutory basis on the 18th January 2016. The Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) provides independent and science-based advice to Government and policy makers on what Ireland needs to do to achieve a climate resilient, biodiversity rich, environmentally sustainable and climate neutral economy by 2050. It is also tasked with assessing the progress made towards this goal.
The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 established a system of carbon budgeting with three 5-year, economy-wide budgets included in each carbon budget programme. Each carbon budget represents the total amount of greenhouse gases that may be emitted in the State during each 5-year period, measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. The carbon budgets will be consistent with furthering the achievement of the national climate objective and include all greenhouse gases. The first carbon budget programme will comprise carbon budgets for the following periods: 2021-2025; 2026-2030 and 2031-2035, with the carbon budget for 2031-2035 being provisional.
A sectoral emissions ceiling is the maximum amount of greenhouse gas emissions that are permitted in a sector of the economy during each 5-year carbon budget. The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, in consultation with other relevant Ministers, will develop a sectoral emissions ceiling for each relevant sector within each 5-year budget, once the overall carbon budget has been adopted.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) annual greenhouse gas inventory and projection reports and the Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) annual report will inform monitoring of compliance with national and sectoral progress towards each carbon budget and sectoral emissions ceiling.
Each year, the Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) must report by 30 October, following which relevant Ministers will be required to give account to an Oireachtas Committee on the following matters: performance both in implementing Climate Action Plan actions and in adhering to their sector’s emissions ceiling under the carbon budget period. Where Ministers are not in compliance with the targets, they will need to outline what corrective measures are envisaged. Ministers will have to attend the Committee and respond to any recommendations made by the Committee within three months. This ‘comply or explain’ approach will ensure greater scrutiny and accountability is provided.
The annual revision to the Climate Action Plan acts as a further review mechanism and opportunity to re-adjust or refocus actions to ensure targets are achieved.
The existing governance mechanisms established on an administrative basis by the 2019 Climate Action Plan will also continue. That is, the Department of the Taoiseach will oversee implementation of actions under the Climate Action Plan and publish quarterly progress reports.