Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 February 2025
82. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to report on the review of greenhouse gas emissions on a consumption basis; if this will impact Ireland's climate targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2923/25]
View answer90. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated timeframe for completing the review of greenhouse gas emissions on a consumption basis as committed to in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3067/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 90 together.
In 2023, Ireland achieved a nearly 7% reduction in emissions, equating to almost one tonne less climate pollution per person. The new Programme for Government, Securing Ireland's Future, sets out the Government's ambitions in terms of reducing emissions further out to 2030 and 2050. The Government’s approach will be to ensure continued climate progress while growing the economy and I, as Minister, will be prioritising the delivery of the Climate Action Plan.
The Programme for Government 2025 includes a review of greenhouse gas emissions on a consumption basis, with a goal of ensuring that Irish actions support the reduction of global emissions, as well as on our own territories. This review will build upon previous research and initiatives such as the Economic and Social Research Institute’s paper ‘The Global Emissions Impact of Irish Consumption'.
A robust circular economy will play an important part in reducing global carbon emissions and protecting our natural resources, environment, and health. A well-established circular economy will provide consumers with greater access to better designed products, which can be shared, reused, repaired, and remade thereby minimising the use of resources and their carbon footprint.
Our 2024 Climate Action Plan aims to target production-based emissions that also reduce our carbon footprint. For example, policies designed to stimulate demand for alternative construction materials will lower the use of high carbon intensive products.
The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is the EU's tool to measure and put a fair price on the carbon emitted during the production of carbon intensive goods that are entering the EU, and to encourage cleaner industrial production in non-EU countries. It places a carbon price on imports of certain goods from outside the EU, to push EU partners to raise their climate ambition and reduce the risk of 'carbon leakage'; where companies transfer production abroad to countries that have less stringent emission rules in place. All these measure and actions shall provide greater transparency and data for consumers to access data on consumption-based emissions and will be considered in the review.
