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Review of Climate Change Policy in Ireland
1. EPA
State of the Environment Report ’12
Review of Climate Policy in Ireland
Owen Ryan
Climate Policy
Department of the Environment, Community
& Local Government
2. Climate Change Agenda
• International agenda
– UN Convention (1992) and Kyoto Protocol (1997).
– Copenhagen Accord (2009) and Cancun Agreements (2010).
– Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (2011).
– IPCC – 4th scientific assessment report (2007).
• EU agenda
– Climate and Energy Package Dec’08.
– Proposed Roadmap to a competitive, low-carbon economy in 2050.
• National agenda
– National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012.
– Ongoing Review of National Climate Policy.
– Programme for development of national climate policy and legislation.
3. Existing EU policy for 2020
• Unilateral EU target to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions by 20% by 2020.
– underpinned by Climate and Energy legislative package adopted
in Dec’08.
• Conditional offer to step up to 30% as part of a
global & comprehensive international agreement
for the post-2012 period.
– Under 2011 Durban Platform for Enhance Action, real prospect
for a new international agreement by 2015 and implementation
from 2020.
4. EU Policy Development
• Roadmap for moving to a competitive low-
carbon economy in 2050:
– setting a long-term vision on cost-effective transition with key
mitigation milestones in 2020, 2030 and 2040.
• Roadmap foresees:
– overachievement (up to 25%) with full implementation of current
policies; and
– possible need to recalibrate ETS allowances to push progress
on energy efficiency.
• Recent proposal from the Commission on land
use, land use change, and forestry.
5. Ireland’s current 2020 target
• In 2013-20 period:
– emissions covered by EU-ETS to be reduced by 21% compared
to 2005; and
– other (non-ETS) emissions by 20%.
• Non-ETS target:
– downward trajectory with annual targets from 2013;
– current distance to target 4.1 to 7.8MtCO2e;
– flexibilities in EU legislation provide an important safety net but
come at a price and do not contribute to domestic transition; and
– non-compliance is not an option – key issue is the most effective
approach to compliance.
6. Policy approach to 2020
• NCCS 2007-2012:
– participation by Irish installations in EU-ETS;
– mitigation across the remainder of the economy, based on a
least-cost approach; and
– domestic action supplemented, as necessary, by purchased
carbon units.
• What approach for post-2012?
– key issue for ongoing climate policy review;
– importance of longer-term transition to a low-carbon future,
particularly on the opportunity side; and
– important to get capital investment right – clean technology.
7. Climate Policy Review
• Released 3rd November 2011.
• Important stock-taking exercise.
• On course for Kyoto Protocol compliance.
• 2020 target (EU law) must be addressed in
longer-term context of transition to competitive,
low-carbon economy.
• National policy must be in place before
legislating can be introduced; legislation must
underpin policy.
8. Response to Climate Policy Review
• “Putting balanced and progressive policies in place to
progress effective national transition without undermining
the competitiveness of the economy is where the real
policy development challenge lies.”
• 3-pronged approached to achieve the necessary
policy mix:
– independent analysis by the Secretariat to NESC, to inform the
policy development process;
– a public consultation; and
– ongoing work through the Cabinet Committee on Climate
Change and the Green Economy.
9. Programme for Policy & Legislation
• Issued by Minister on 18th January 2012.
• Central role foreseen for Oireachtas Committee
on Environment, Transport, Culture & Gaeltacht.
• Key elements of Programme:
– Independent analysis by NESC Secretariat – interim
report by end June ’12 and final report by end year;
and
– public consultation – March/April ’12.
10. Programme for Policy and Legislation
Next Steps
• NESC Secretariat interim report by end June
’12.
• Quarter 3 – Minister to release interim report and
seek views of Oireachtas Committee.
• Quarter 4 – Minister to announce:
– Government response to interim report; and
– issue heads of climate bill for consideration by
Oireachtas Committee and stakeholders.
• Full Programme available on www.environ.ie
11. Facts for post-2012 policy
• Current GHG mitigation targets for 2020 are binding
under EU law:
– infringement proceedings in the event of non-compliance.
• Targets likely to strengthen as EU policy develops, either
in line with or ahead of international policy.
• Ireland’s somewhat unique GHG profile within EU;
– relatively low proportion of emissions fall within scope of EU-ETS where
abatement options tend to be less costly; and
– agriculture emissions at approximately 40% of non-ETS in 2009.
• New potential for growth in dairy sector from 2015.
• Treatment of LULUCF category still something of a
policy unknown – major issue for Ireland.
12. Considerations for post-2012 policy
• Future growth must be sustainable on economic and
environmental grounds.
• Transition to a low-carbon future inevitable.
• Emerging global green economy now a major influence
on transition; competitiveness is a key factor.
• Need for a new focus on challenges and opportunities.
• Investment critical – clean technology.
• Post 2012 – simple compliance-based policy response
to targets no longer adequate.
• “In meeting our future GHG mitigation commitments, national
policy development must aim to position Ireland among the
progressive leading countries in the low-carbon global economy of
tomorrow” Minister Hogan, on releasing the review of national policy,
November 11.