National Climate Policy

The extent of the challenge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is understood by government and the evolution of national climate policy will be based on the adoption by government of a series of national plans which will include early identification and ongoing updating of possible transition pathways to 2050 to inform sectoral strategic choices.

National plans will be adopted and reviewed on a structural basis to ensure a coherent policy across all key sectors, and to provide clarity for business and stakeholders generally. The structural basis for national plans on mitigation and adaptation will reflect government commitment to transparency, inclusiveness and accountability.

The National Climate Policy Position establishes the national objective of achieving a competitive, low-carbon, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable economy by 2050. It sets out the level of greenhouse gas mitigation ambition needed and establishes the process to achieve the overall objective. The National Policy Position envisages that policy development will be guided by a long-term vision based on:

• an aggregate reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of at least 80% (compared to 1990 levels) by 2050 across the electricity generation, built environment and transport sectors
• an approach to carbon neutrality in the agriculture and land-use sector, including forestry, which does not compromise capacity for sustainable food production.

The enactment of the Climate Action and Low-Carbon Development Act 2015 was a landmark national milestone in the evolution of climate change policy in Ireland. The 2015 Act provides the statutory basis for the national transition objective laid out in the national policy position. As provided for in the Act, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications must submit to government a series of successive plans and frameworks which will ensure the national transition objective is achieved by the implementation of cost-effective measures.

Section 14(1) of the Climate Action and Low-Carbon Development Act 2015 provides that an Annual Transition Statement must be presented annually to both Houses of the Oireachtas by the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications. Annual Transition Statements include an overview of mitigation and adaptation policy measures to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the effects of climate change. An Annual Transition Statement also provides a summary of current and projected greenhouse gas emissions published by the Environmental Protection Agency, and includes a compliance report with State obligations under EU law or an international agreement.

The Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) was established in January 2016 under section 8 of the Climate Action and Low-Carbon Development Act 2015. The Council provides independent advice and recommendations to the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications on how best to respond to the impact of climate change. In accordance with the Act, the CCAC provides annual and periodic reports regarding Ireland’s progress in achieving its national policy goals and greenhouse gas emissions targets agreed by the European Union.

In May 2021, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, along with other relevant Government Departments and Agencies, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the CCAC. The Memorandum facilitates greater sharing of data, modelling and analysis to promote further transparency and collaboration in evidence-based climate policy making including the development of Carbon Budgets.

The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 makes provision for the CCAC to prepare and propose carbon budgets ensuring that they are consistent with the national climate objective and have regard to the relevant rules applied by the European Union.

Section 9 of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 provides for two distinct Regulations, which are required to:

• provide clarity to the CCAC on how to determine their proposals for carbon budgets
• provide clarity to the CCAC on how to calculate and account for emissions and removals

The first of these, Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 (Greenhouse Gas Emissions) Regulations 2021, received Government approval on Tuesday 12 October 2021.

The Regulation itself sets out the following:

• Which greenhouse gases the carbon budgets will include
• The greenhouse gas emissions activities and data sources to be used, including emissions from land use, land use change and forestry
• The means and variables for the calculations, as specified in the UNFCCC guidelines and the Annex to the delegated Commission decision

As outlined in Climate Action Plan 2023, the public sector will play a leadership role in driving far-reaching climate action across its buildings, transport, waste, and energy usage. A clear message from the National Dialogue on Climate Action is that people want the government to lead by example and know that everyone is doing their part. The government is committed to working closely with all citizens, communities, and businesses to empower them to take the necessary action to address climate change. The public sector will lead by example, embedding climate action as a central value across all public sector organisations, relentlessly focusing on continuous improvements that deliver real progress.

Read more about Public Sector Climate Action