Giving Ireland a Sustainable Future
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
Cleaner air, warmer homes, better-connected communities, and a more sustainable economy
Climate Action Plan to Tackle Climate Breakdown launches
The Government has today (Monday the 17th of June) published the Climate Action Plan, led by Minister Richard Bruton, to give Irish people a cleaner, safer and more sustainable future.
The far-reaching plan sets out over 180 actions, together with hundreds of sub-actions, that need to be taken at a time when the warning signs are growing, and the time for taking action is rapidly reducing.
At a time when we should be radically reducing our reliance on carbon, Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions have been rising rapidly. We are currently 85% dependent on fossil fuels. We= have a short window of opportunity to reverse this trend and secure a better, healthier, more resilient future for the country. This means changing the way we heat our homes, the way we travel and the way we power our country.
This plan identifies how Ireland will achieve its 2030 targets for carbon emissions, and puts us on a trajectory to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. It uses the same model as the Action Plan for Jobs, which was also spear-headed by Minister Richard Bruton and was instrumental in restoring Ireland’s economy.
The Plan embraces every relevant sector: electricity, enterprise, housing, heating, transport, agriculture, waste, and the public sector.
It’s ambitious but realistic and will:
Minister responsible for delivering on the target, with penalities if they are not met.
These targets will be underpinned by a new Climate Action Act.
All major government investments and decisions will be carbon-proofed.
The plan also includes actions to ensure that all of us as citizens become engaged and mobilised to take climate action, while ensuring that the necessary societal and economic transition that we have to make is fair, both in Ireland and globally.
The Climate Action Plan, like the Action Plan for Jobs, will be annually updated, with actions reported on quarterly. The government today also approved the establishment of the Climate Action Delivery Board to ensure that the delivery of the plan is overseen by the Taoiseach’s office.
Failure to implement these policies to meet our legally binding EU targets could result in a cost to the Exchequer of up to €1.75 billion over the next decade as well as locking Ireland into a future high carbon trajectory.
An Taoiseach said:
“The greatest responsibility we have is to pass on our planet to the next generation in a better condition than we inherited it. With this Plan we are making changes now, before it is too late, to ensure we do exactly that.
“We recognise that Government doesn’t have all the answers. So we will work with people, industry and communities to chart the best and most inclusive way forward. A way forward that is both effective and sensible. One that achieves our targets, and in a way that is thought through and considered, supports employment and living standards and enables a just transition.
“Our approach will be to nudge people and businesses to change behaviour and adapt new technologies through incentives, disincentives, regulations and information. Our objective, as we plan for the future, is to transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient society. This Plan represents the sum of our hopes for the future. Our call to action in the fight to save our planet.”
Minister Bruton said:
“Every generation wants to leave the world in a better place than they found it for their children. We have a short window of opportunity to act. We must act now and leave a better, healthier, more sustainable Ireland for future generations. This Plan provides our way forward.
“We are currently 85% dependent on fossil fuels. This Plan sets out radical reforms, which will cut our reliance on carbon, making our businesses more competitive, our homes more sustainable and our farms more efficient. We will be doing things in new, innovative ways. Most of the actions set out will actually save money in the long-run. We will now implement this Plan, rolling out the required actions through a sustained effort.
“This is a life changing journey and it is a rapid, transformative adjustment that is required. Nothing less will do. We must all now take up the challenge.”
The Government Climate Plan to tackle climate breakdown has been informed by the work of the Citizens Assembly and the work of the All Party Committee on Climate Action, chaired by Hildegarde Naughton.
The Climate Action Plan puts us on a trajectory to meet our 2030 target for carbon emissions, which is consistent with achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The Plan commits to evaluating in detail the changes required to adopt a more ambitious commitment of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. In the new Climate Action Act, we will include a 2050 target in law.
The full plan can be accessed on www.gov.ie/climateaction
Social media handle: #ClimatePlan2019
The Climate Action Plan is to be seen as a rolling process for effective consultation and implementation of change. The Minister plans to immediately engage in a series of consultative meetings to explain the approach, hear views and take on ideas. A Climate Action Plan 2020 will be published next year which will also take into account all consultation that takes place.
Electricity
Buildings
Transport
Agriculture
Common Agricultural Policy and implementation of the National Policy Statement on the Bioeconomy.
Enterprise and Services
Waste and the Circular Economy
The Climate Action Plan has been informed by the work of the Citizens Assembly and the work of the All Party Committee on Climate Action, chaired by Hildegarde Naughton. The Citizens Assembly was established under the Programme for Government and signposted the way for radical reform. The All Party Committee convened thereafter, produced a report based on the Assembly’s recommendations. This report has since been unanimously endorsed by the Dáil, while at the same time declaring a Climate and Biodiversity Emergency.