Are landfills the best way to get rid of our environment’s trash?
Joint submission on National Mitigation Plan FV · Submission to the Department of Communications,...
Transcript of Joint submission on National Mitigation Plan FV · Submission to the Department of Communications,...
SubmissiontotheDepartmentofCommunications,ClimateAction&Environment’sontheDraftNationalMitigationPlan.April2017.
1
SubmissiontotheDepartmentofCommunications,Climate
ActionandEnvironmentonthedraft
NationalMitigationPlan(NMP)
StopClimateChaosCoalitionandtheEnvironmentalPillariApril2017
SubmissiontotheDepartmentofCommunications,ClimateAction&Environment’sontheDraftNationalMitigationPlan.April2017.
2
1. Overview
ThedraftNationalMitigationPlan(NMP)containssomewelcomediscreteproposalssuchas
thepreparationofoptionsforphasingoutfossilfuels,andanationalparkingreview.Italso
containsanumberofpositivenewelementsinrelationtoeffectiveclimatepolicyplanning
includingtheuseofacarbonbudgetframing;commitmenttoidentifyingpossibletransition
pathwaysto2050;reviewofguidanceonpublicexpenditurereviewandappraisaland
identificationofexchequerandnon-exchequeroptionsforfinancingthetransition;and
enhancingstandingtechnicalandeconomicadvisorycapacityforclimatepolicydevelopment.
However,thedraftPlandoesnotrepresenttheincreaseinambitionrequiredtomeeteither
Ireland’sexistingEUtargetsortoensureIrelanddoesitsfairshareoftheglobaleffortto
deliveronthetemperaturelimitsadoptedintheParisAgreement.1Furthermore,ouroverall
viewisthatthePlanascurrentlydrafteddoesnotfulfilthetaskascribedtoitunderthe
ClimateActionandLowCarbonDevelopmentAct(2015)(hereinreferredtoastheClimate
Act)andthusshouldnotbethetemplatefornationalmitigationplanning.TheClimateAct
(2015)stipulatesinSection4(2)thattheNMPmust:
● ‘specifythemannerinwhichitisproposedtoachievethenationaltransitionobjective’,
● ‘specifythepolicymeasuresthat...wouldberequired...forfurtheringtheachievement
ofthenationaltransitionobjective’,
● ‘takeintoaccountanyexistingobligationoftheStateunderthelawoftheEuropean
Unionoranyinternationalagreement’,and;
● ‘specifythemitigationpolicymeasurestobeadoptedbytheMinistersofthe
Government...’.2
1TheParisAgreement,adoptedinDecember2015,commitsthe196countriesthatagreeditto“holdingtheincreaseintheglobalaveragetemperaturetowellbelow2°Cabovepre-industriallevelsandpursuingeffortstolimitthetemperatureincreaseto1.5°Cabovepre-industriallevels”.2TheStrategicEnvironmentalAssessmentScopingReport(2015)forthedraftNMPoutlinedthatinaccordancewithIreland’sclimatelaw,thePlancouldinclude,amongotheraspects,highlevelobjectivesforeachsectorto2050,mitigationplansfor2020,2030andbeyond,anoutlineofthecumulativeeffectsofsectoralactionandtheimplicationsforIreland’soverallclimateobjectivesandtargets,anddetailontheproposedmechanismstomeasure,reportandevaluateprogress.
SubmissiontotheDepartmentofCommunications,ClimateAction&Environment’sontheDraftNationalMitigationPlan.April2017.
3
ThisisthefirstNMPundertheClimateAct,andIreland’sfirstClimatePlansincetheadoption
andratificationoftheParisAgreementandtheaforementionedpromisingaspectsofthe
draftPlanshouldbebuiltuponandstrengthenedfurther.However,thePlanshouldbe
substantiallyredevelopedinordertosettheagendaintermsofambition,approachand
methodologyforclimatepolicyplanninggoingforward.
Recommendation:Thelevelofambition,theproposedapproachtopolicy
planning,andtheoverallframingforclimateactionreflectedinthedraftPlan
requirefundamentalchanges.ItisourviewthatthePlanasawholeshouldnot
beconsideredanappropriateoradequatetemplateforambitious,fairclimate
actionandnationalmitigationpolicyplanning,andanewPlanshouldbe
broughtforward.
2. DoestheNMPputforwardaPlanfordeliveringIreland’sclimateaction
commitments?
ThedraftPlanacknowledgesthechallengesIrelandfaces,butfailstoidentifythespecific
policymeasuresandapproachesrequiredforfurtherachievementofthemitigationelement
ofthenationaltransitionobjective(i.e.,an80%reductionincombinedemissionsfrom
energy,transportandbuildingsandanapproachtocarbonneutralityinagricultureby2050
thatdoesnotcompromisesustainablefoodproduction).Thisdoesnotreflectthelegislative
requirementsestablishedbytheClimateAct(2015),assetoutabove(Section1).
Furthermore,theabsenceofaspecificpolicyapproachwithinthedraftcontrastssharplywith
recommendationsfromIreland’sClimateChangeAdvisoryCouncil(CCAC)regardingwhat
shouldbecontainedwithintheNMP.Theserecommendationswereoutlinedinarecent
communicationtotheMinisterforCommunications,ClimateActionandEnvironment,3andin
theirfirstadvisoryreportpublishedinNovember2016.4Inthisreport,theCCACadvisedthat
long-termplanningandastablepolicyframeworkcomprisingconcretepoliciesandmeasures
3See:March2017-LettertoMinisterNaughtenregardingthepreparationoftheNationalMitigationPlan.Availableat:http://www.climatecouncil.ie/councilpublications/otherpublications/4ClimateChangeAdvisoryCouncil(2016)FirstReport.Availableat:http://www.climatecouncil.ie/media/CCAC_FIRSTREPORT.pdf
SubmissiontotheDepartmentofCommunications,ClimateAction&Environment’sontheDraftNationalMitigationPlan.April2017.
4
isrequiredtohelpachieveimmediate2020and2030climateandenergytargetsalready
agreedatEUlevel.TheyalsostatedthattheNMPshouldnotonlyprovideaplanoutlining
howIrelandwillachievethesetargets,butalsoincludeanoutlineoftheroadmaprequiredto
reachIreland’sself-declared,2050nationalobjective.5
Recommendation:WhileitisacceptablethatthisPlancannotdetermineindetailthe
thirty-threeyearpolicypathwayto2050,tobecredibleandeffective,however,thePlan
should:
1. Assignanappropriatecarbonbudgetandsetoutdetailedobjectivesand
intendedpolicymeasurestobeadoptedtodeliverontheseobjectivesforat
leastafiveyearperiod;
2. AccountfortheimplicationsoftheambitionofthePlanforachievementof
Ireland’s2020,2030and2050climatecommitmentsand;
3. AcknowledgetheimplicationsofanyprojectedfailurebyIrelandtomeetitsfair
shareoftheglobaleffortundertheParisAgreementandhowitintendsto
addressthisshortfall.Asarich,developednation,Irelandcanneithermorally
norpoliticallyjustify‘free-riding’ontheeffortsofothers.
ThedraftPlanreferstointentionsregardingaccessingnon-exchequer,privatefinancing
mechanismstoimplementcertainclimatepolicies.Itcanonlybeassumedthatinvestor
confidencewouldbeincreasedwithgreaterclarityonshort,mediumandlong-term
objectivesandthepolicydirectionintendedtodeliveronthem.
5In2012,thegovernmentwereadvisedtoachieveamoreunifiedandconsistentsetofambitiouspolicyinstrumentsindevelopingitsclimatechangestrategy,andtoachievea‘moreunifiedandstableviewofhowpolicyoptionsandactionswillbedeveloped,assessed,monitored,evaluatedandadapted’(NESC,2012:71).TheStrategicEnvironmentalAssessmentScopingReport(2015)fortheNMPoutlinedthatthePlanmustaddresscompliancewith2020targets,andcontainapolicyplanfor2030.
SubmissiontotheDepartmentofCommunications,ClimateAction&Environment’sontheDraftNationalMitigationPlan.April2017.
5
Anarrowandincomplete‘costeffectiveness’analysiscannotdeliverfairandadequate
action
Applyingtraditionalcost-benefitanalysistoclimatepolicycanresultindelayedactionuntil
moreinformationandinnovationisavailabletolowerthecostsoftakingaction,6andcan
reducethepotentialfornewsolutionsandalternativestoemerge.7Webelievethecurrent
focuswithinthePlanon‘costeffectiveness’isbothinadequateandincompleteandwillnot
serveIrishsocietyoranorderlytransitionoftheeconomy.Inordertobefairandadequate,
thefollowingcostsmustbeconsidered:
Thelocalandglobalhumancostsofinactionmustbeacknowledged
• UndertheClimateAct(2015),climatejusticeisoneoftheprinciplesthatclimatepolicy
measuresmusthaveregardto.However,referencetoclimatejusticeandtheglobaland
domesticimplicationsofthisprinciplefordomesticclimatepolicyiscompletelyabsentin
thedraftPlan.ThedraftNMPsystematicallyrefersto‘cost-effectiveness’astheanalytical
lensforidentifyingandproceedingwithclimatemeasures,withoutanyconsiderationof
thewidersocialanddistributionalequityimplications.Atdomesticandgloballevels,the
poorestandmostvulnerablepeopleinsocietyaretheworstaffectedbyclimateimpacts.8
• Already,climaticchangesareestimatedtocausegloballybetween150-400,000
additionaldeathsannually9.Climate-relatedextremeeventsaccountedforapproximately
6Baker,T.(2016)TheEconomicsofAvoidingDangerousClimateChange.StudiesinEcologicalEconomics,Vol.6,pp.237-263.7Richardson,H.(2000)TheStupidityoftheCostBenefitStandard.JournalofLegalStudies,Vol.29(1),pp.971-1003.8IPCC,2014:Summaryforpolicymakers.In:ClimateChange2014:Impacts,Adaptation,andVulnerability.PartA:GlobalandSectoralAspects.ContributionofWorkingGroupIItotheFifthAssessmentReportoftheIntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange[Field,C.B.,V.R.Barros,D.J.Dokken,K.J.Mach,M.D.Mastrandrea,T.E.Bilir,M.Chatterjee,K.L.Ebi,Y.O.Estrada,R.C.Genova,B.Girma,E.S.Kissel,A.N.Levy,S.MacCracken,P.R.Mastrandrea,andL.L.White(eds.)].CambridgeUniversityPress,Cambridge,UnitedKingdomandNewYork,NY,USA,pp.1-32.9DARAandtheClimateVulnerableForum.(2012)ClimateVulnerabilityMonitor;AGuidetotheColdCalculusofaHotPlanet.Availableat:http://daraint.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/CVM2ndEd-FrontMatter.pdf
SubmissiontotheDepartmentofCommunications,ClimateAction&Environment’sontheDraftNationalMitigationPlan.April2017.
6
85,000additionaldeathsinEuropeovertheperiod1980-2013.10In2015alone,more
than19.2millionpeopleacross113countriesfledclimate-relateddisasters.11
• Thelocalcostsofclimatechange-relatedextremeeventsarenotadequately
incorporatedintothedraftPlan.VariousEPAresearchprojectshaveexaminedIreland’s
vulnerabilityandplacedestimatesof,forexample,thecostofcoastalfloodingwith1m-
5minundationevents.12,13Thehumanimpactsofincreasinglyunpredictableandintense
weathereventsonhomesandbusinessesinIrelandarealreadysignificant.Theseimpacts
areperfectlycapturedinaDáilstatementonflooding,madeinearly2016,byTaoiseach
EndaKennyT.D.:
‘Today,myfirstthoughtsandwordsmustbewiththosewhohave
sufferedsomuchbecauseofthestormsofthelastmonth:themen
andwomenwhosefarmsandhomeshavebeenflooded,isolatedor
evacuated,whoselivelihoodshavebeenthreatened,andwhohave
spentlong,anxiousdaysandnightsafraidofandmesmerisedbythe
weatherforecastofrain,rain,rain,andtheheartbreakitbrought’.14
• Anequitylensfactoringintheimplicationsofclimateactionandinactionforthemost
vulnerableinIrishsocietyisneeded.Thesocialandregionalimplications(positiveand
negative)arisingfromlowcarbondevelopmentacrossthevarioussectors,i.e.,thecosts
toworkers,businessesandcommunitiesthatareaffecteddirectlybythephasingoutof
fossil-fuelindustriesforexample,andthepotentialforeconomicandotherbenefitsto
accruedbycommunitiesunderdecarbonisationmeasures.Itisclearthatfailureto
10EuropeanEnvironmentAgency(2016).Climatechange,impactsandvulnerabilityinEurope2016.pp.19and27.Availableat:http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/climate-change-impacts-and-vulnerability-2016/key-findings11NorwegianRefugeeCouncil(2016)DisasterandClimateChange.Availableat:https://www.nrc.no/what-we-do/speaking-up-for-rights/climate-change/12Sweeney,J.&Coll,J.(2013)CurrentandfuturevulnerabilitiestoClimateChangeinIreland.ClimateChangeResearchProgramme(CCRP)2007-2013,ReportSeriesNo.29.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency,Johnstown
Castle,Wexford.13Flood,S.andSweeney,J.(2012)Quantifyingimpactsofpotentialsea-levelrisescenariosonIrishcoastalcities.In:Otto-Zimmermann,K(ed.)ResilientCities2011.Springer,London,27-52.14See:http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/irish/Nuacht/Aithisc_an_Taoisigh_/Dail_Statement_by_the_Taoiseach_Enda_Kenny_T_D_on_Flooding_13_January_2016.html
SubmissiontotheDepartmentofCommunications,ClimateAction&Environment’sontheDraftNationalMitigationPlan.April2017.
7
addressormanage,inparticular,unevendevelopmentandtheneedsofaffected
communitieswillunderminethelevelofpublicsupportforclimateactionmeasures.
Delaydrivesupthecostsofdecarbonising
• In2006,thelandmarkSternReportontheEconomicsofClimateChangeestimatedthat
thecostofinactioncouldbeasmuchas20%ofglobalGDP,incomparisontojust1%of
GDPfortakingclimateaction.15Sternhassinceemphasisedthatcurrenteconomic
modelstendtoseriouslyunderestimateclimatechangeimpacts.16
• In2011,theInternationalEnergyAgency(IEA)projectedthatforevery$1ofinvestment
incleanertechnologythatneedstobeinvestedinthepowersectorbefore2020,an
additional$4.30wouldneedtobespentafter2020tocompensatefortheincreased
emissionsifsuchinvestmentswerenotmade.17
• ThecostofadaptingtoclimatechangeimpactsinIrelandhasbeenestimatedatbetween
€80mand€800mannually.18Adaptationtotheseimpactsisabsolutelyessentialto
protectIrishcommunitiesandbusinesses.Themosteffectiveadaptationstrategyisto
pursueandpromotegloballyanincreaseinmitigationaction.
• NoattempthasbeenmadeinthedraftPlantodeterminethecostsassociatedwith
climateimpactsondifferenteconomicsectors.Thiscontrastswiththeacknowledgement
inearlierclimateactionplans–suchastheNationalClimateChangeStrategy(2007-2012)
–ontheeconomicimperativeforearlyaction,andrecognitionthatthecostsofinaction
greatlyoutweighthecostsofanearlyandeffectiveresponse.
Thecostofnon-compliancewithEUtargetsmustbefactoredin
• In2014,thethenDepartmentofEnvironment,CommunityandLocalGovernment
predictedthatnon-compliancecostswithagreedEU2020targetscouldbebetween€140
15Stern(2006)SternReview:TheEconomicsofClimateChange,London:HMTreasury.16Stern,N.(2016)Currentclimatemodelsaregrosslymisleading.Nature,Vol.530(7591):407-409.17Theworldislockingitselfintoanunsustainableenergyfuturewhichwouldhavefar-reachingconsequences,IEAwarnsinitslatestWorldEnergyOutlook.InternationalEnergyAgencyPressRelease9/11/2011.18EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(2013)Co-ordination,CommunicationandAdaptationforClimateChangeinIreland:anintegratedApproach(COCOADPT).Availableat:https://www.epa.ie/pubs/reports/research/climate/CCRP_30%20COCO%20Adapt.pdf
SubmissiontotheDepartmentofCommunications,ClimateAction&Environment’sontheDraftNationalMitigationPlan.April2017.
8
millionand€600million.19Thisamountstoalmost22%oftheprojectednetfiscalspace
in202020,whichcouldotherwisefundimprovementsinhealthoreducation.Estimates
fromtheInstituteofInternationalandEuropeanAffairs(IIEA,2016)21suggestthatinthe
scenarioofnonewclimateactionmeasuresbeingurgentlybroughtforward,combined
2020and2030non-compliancecoststotheIrishtaxpayersmayexceed€6billion.22
• Thesecosts,orattemptstopreventorminimisethem,arecurrentlynotacknowledgedin
thedraftPlan.Theyshouldbefactoredin,andthelikelyimpactofproposedpolicy
measuresinreducingthesecostsincludedintheanalysisofimplicationssectionofeach
five-yearplan.
Thecostoffailingtocapitaliseonopportunitiesofanambitiousdecarbonisationpathwaymustbetakenintoaccount
• ALondonSchoolofEconomicsstudyin2015concludedthattheneteconomicbenefits
forcountriesfromtacklingclimatechangecontinuetooutweighthecosts.23
• Currently,IrelandisthethirdhighestproducerofemissionsperpersonintheEU,and
eighthintheOECD.Ireland’semergingreputationasa‘climatelaggard’24shouldbeof
considerableconcernfromaneconomicperspective.In2016,theGlobalGreenEconomy
Index,aleadinginternationalmeasureofthegreeneconomicperformanceofeighty
countries,showedIrelandslidesignificantlyinglobalrankingsdueinparticular,toa
perceivedlackofpoliticalleadershiponclimatechangeandpoorperformanceon
19DepartmentofEnvironment,CommunityandLocalGovernment(2014)FutureExpenditureRisksassociatedwithClimateChange/ClimateFinance.Availableat:http://igees.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Future-Expenditure-Risks-associated-with-Climate-Change-Climate-Finance1.pdf20DepartmentofFinance(2016)InformationNoteonFiscalSpace2017–2021.Availableathttp://www.finance.gov.ie/sites/default/files/Information%2Note%20on%20Fiscal%20Space%202017%20fin.pdf21Curtin(2016)‘HowmuchofIreland’s“fiscalspace”willclimateinactionconsume?’Availableat:http://www.iiea.com/blogosphere/how-much-of-irelands-fiscal-space-will-climate-inaction-consume22Bywayofcomparison,thecutsincurrentexpenditureduringthethreeyearsoftheTroikabailout(2011,2012,and2013)totalled€4.6billion(SeeTable1.herehttp://bit.ly/NERI2015).23LondonSchoolofEconomics(2015)NationallySelf-InterestedClimateChangeMitigation:AUnifiedConceptualFramework.GranthamResearchInstituteonClimateChangeandtheEnvironment.Workingpaper.24IrishTimes.November22nd2016.‘Governmentcriticisedforfailingtoactonclimatechange;PatCoxsaysIrelandisindangerofbecomingtheclimatechangelaggardofEurope’.Availableat:http://www.irishtimes.com/business/energy-and-resources/government-criticised-for-failing-to-act-on-climate-change-1.2878291
SubmissiontotheDepartmentofCommunications,ClimateAction&Environment’sontheDraftNationalMitigationPlan.April2017.
9
environmentalcommitments.Thisissignificantlyunderminingthepotentialtoportray
Irelandasahubforinvestmentpotentialintheemerginggreenglobaleconomy.
• ResearchcarriedoutfortheIrishCorporateLeadersGroupin2014highlightedthe
potentialfor90,000jobsinIrelandunderanambitiousdecarbonisationagenda.25
• Climatepolicycanbeeithersociallyprogressiveorregressive.Onthepathto
decarbonisation,changesinthelabourmarketwillincludenewjobcreation,the
eliminationofcertainjobroles,substitutionandjobtransformation,yetthedraft
mitigationPlanprovidesnoindicationofhowtheemploymentneedsinaffected
communitieswillbemetintheshorttomediumterm.ThefinalNMPshouldinclude
safeguardstoensureclimatepoliciesdonotcreateunintendedimpactsoramplifythe
vulnerabilityofcommunities.
Considerationofthesystemicrisksofinactionmustbecomecentral
• Climatechangeanddirectlyconnectedissuesofextremeweatherandresourcecrises
haveconsistentlyfeaturedamongthetop-rankedrisksintheWorldEconomicForum’s
GlobalRisksReportsince2011.
• Whileclimatechangeisimpactingonallworldregions,poorcountriesareandwill
remaindisproportionallyaffected.However,Europe,includingIreland,isalsovulnerable
tospill-overeffectsfromclimatechangeimpactsoccurringoutsidetheEU,especiallyin
relationtotrade,infrastructureandtransport,geopoliticsandsecurityrisks,human
migrationandfinance.26
• AreportbyanAdvisoryCommitteetotheEuropeanSystemicRiskBoard,broughtbefore
EUFinanceMinistersinApril2016,highlightedthat‘alatetransitiontoalow-carbon
economywouldexacerbatethephysicalcostsofclimatechange’(2016:4).Itprojectsthat
thiswouldresultina‘hardlanding’,constrainingenergysupply,increasingwhole
economyproductioncosts,witheffectsequivalenttolargeandpersistentnegative
25IrishCorporateLeadersonClimateChange(2014)UnlockingOpportunity.TheBusinessCaseforTakingClimateActioninIreland.Availableat:http://www.foe.ie/download/pdf/unlocking_opportunity_the_business_case_for_climate_action_in_ireland.pdf26EuropeanEnvironmentAgency(2016)Climatechange,impactsandvulnerabilityinEurope2016:Anindicator-basedreport.Brussels:EuropeanEnvironmentAgency.Availableat:http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/climate-change-impacts-and-vulnerability-2016
SubmissiontotheDepartmentofCommunications,ClimateAction&Environment’sontheDraftNationalMitigationPlan.April2017.
10
macroeconomicshock.27Thisisonlyoneofaswatheofrecentinitiativeshighlightingthe
systemicriskstothefinancialsystemandglobaleconomyoffailingtoactadequately,
effectivelyandinatimelywaytodecarboniseglobalandnationaleconomies.28
Recommendation:ToberobustthefinalNMPmustfullyexplicitlyevaluatethe
directcostsofinaction,therisingcostsactionifactionisdelayed.The
opportunitycostsofinactionandthesystemicrisksassociatedwithinaction.
Moreover,werecommendthatthebuildingoftechnicalandeconomic
advisorycapacityshouldincludetheexpansionofthecurrentnarrow‘cost-
effectiveness’analysis,asamatterofpriority,tointegrateanalysisofthe
implicationsofallofthecostsandrisksoutlinedaboveonanongoingbasis.
(Section2).
3. DoestheNMPprovideavisionforIrelandin2050thatthepublicand
privatesectorcangetbehind?
TheoveralltoneofthePlaniscautious,borderingondefeatist.Theoverwhelmingmessageis
thatclimateactionisundesirable,costlyandthattheemphasismustbeonminimising
disruptiontocurrentnationaldevelopmentplans.Thisisinstarkcontrasttothetoneand
framingforotherpolicyareas,suchasforexample,inFoodWise2025(2015)the
government’sroadmapforexpansionofIreland’sagri-foodsector,theNationalRecovery
Planin2010,ortheActionPlanforJobs(2012).Weacceptandendorsetheanalysisthat
climateactionwillrequiresignificantchangesthatrequirepublicandprivatesectorsupport.
Webelievestronglyhowever,thatelicitingsuchsupportrequiresavastlydifferentvisionand
tonetothatcurrentlysetoutinthedraftPlan.Signsofsuchanambitiousvisionandpositive
27EuropeanSystemicRiskBoard(2016)Toolate,toosudden:Transitiontoalow-carboneconomyandsystemicrisk.ReportsoftheAdvisoryScientificCommitteeNo6/February2016.Germany:EuropeanSystemicRiskBoard.28Since2015,aninvestigationbytheBankofEnglandintosystemicriskledtotheestablishmentoftheG20FinancialStabilityBoardTaskForceonClimate-relatedDisclosure.InrecentmonthstheDutchCentralBankandSwedishFinancialSupervisoryAuthority,theAustralianPrudentialRegulationAuthority,DeputyGovernoroftheBankofCanada,andajointreportbytheFrenchTreasury,CentralBankandPrudentialRegulatorshaveallinitiatednationallevelconsiderationoftheseissues.
SubmissiontotheDepartmentofCommunications,ClimateAction&Environment’sontheDraftNationalMitigationPlan.April2017.
11
tonewereevidentonthepublicationoftheEnergyWhitePaper29producedbythesame
DepartmentinDecember2015buttheyareabsentnow.
Scotland’sDraftClimateChangePlan(2017-2032)providesausefulillustrationofa
frameworkthatisnotonlyambitious,policyimplementation/outcomeandtarget-focused,
butalsoframesclimateactionasprovidinganopportunityforinnovation.TheScottishPlan
alsoacknowledgestheprinciplesofclimatejusticeandScotland’sinternationalcommitments.
DenmarkandSwedenprovideothervisionaryexamplesofwheregovernmentshaveaccepted
andembracedthenecessityandinevitabilityofthechangerequired,andarechoosingto
makedecarbonisationcentraltotheirgrowthandjobcreationstrategies.30
Effectiveclimateactioncouldsignificantlystrengthenthestabilityandresilienceofthe
domesticeconomy.Inmanycases,thisactiondoesnotnecessarilyrequirenewexchequer
resources,butrathertheeliminationofincoherentpolicies,re-allocatingexistingresources,
andrecalibratingincentivestowardslowcarbondevelopment.31
Recommendation:InordertoprovideavisionforIrelandin2050thatthepublic
andprivatesectorcangetbehind,theNMPmustpresentacompellingvisionfora
decarbonisedIreland,acceptingandembracingthechallengeandmakingthe
decarbonisationagendaanagendaforsocialprogressandequity,prosperityand
environmentalsustainability.Thiswillrequirefosteringapragmaticbutpositive
narrativearoundclimateactionifthepublicandprivatesectorareexpectedto
supportthemeasuresneeded.
29DepartmentofCommunications,EnergyandNaturalResources(2015),“EnergyWhitePapersetsambitiouscourseforcarbon-freeenergysector”.Availableathttp://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/news-and-media/press-releases/Pages/Energy-White-Paper-sets-ambitious-course-for-a-carbon-free-energy-sector.aspx30NordicCouncilofMinisters(2014)NordicActiononClimateChange.Copenhagen:NordicCouncilofMinisters.Availableat:http://norden.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:768493/FULLTEXT01.pdf31IrishCorporateLeadersonClimateChange(2014)UnlockingOpportunity.TheBusinessCaseforTakingClimateActioninIreland.Availableat:http://www.foe.ie/download/pdf/unlocking_opportunity_the_business_case_for_climate_action_in_ireland.pdf
SubmissiontotheDepartmentofCommunications,ClimateAction&Environment’sontheDraftNationalMitigationPlan.April2017.
12
TheNationalMitigationPlan,liketheforthcomingNationalDialogueonClimateChange,32can
onlybecredibleandmeaningfulifitisbasedonthescienceandtherequiredlevelofactionto
alignIreland’sdecarbonisationagendawithitsfairshareoftheglobalefforttodeliveronthe
ParisAgreementcommitments.IntheNationalDialogue,thepubliccanandshouldbeasked
forviewsonthe‘howto’ratherthanon‘howmuch’.
Recommendation:Equippedwiththescientificevidenceandknowledgeofthe
implicationsofafailuretoact,theGovernmentmustframetheDialogueinterms
ofaclearandunswervingcommitmenttoactambitiouslyandfairlyonclimate
change.Thisisessentialtoprotectsocietyfromthethreatofclimatechangeand
ensurethatIrelandisinapositiontoreapthesocial,healthandeconomic
opportunitiesofferedbymeaningfulclimateaction.
4. DoestheNMPadduptoIrelanddoingitsfairshare?
MeasuringIreland’sfairshareofclimateaction
AfundamentaltestfortheadequacyofthedraftmitigationPlaniswhetherornotitcontains
anddetailscomprehensiveactiontoenableIrelandtodoitsfairsharetowardsmitigation.
TherearefourbenchmarksforwhatIreland’sfairshareofactionis:its2020targetsasagreed
withEUpartners,proposed2030targets(currentlyundernegotiation),theNational
TransitionObjectivefor2050(establishedbytheGovernmentinlinewiththeEU’s2050
objective),andfinally,Ireland’sobligationsundertheParisAgreement.
ThesetargetsmustbereviewedonfootofthetemperaturegoalsadoptedinParis,andas
withallothercommittedcountries,Irelandwillberequiredtoratchetupitsambitionand
rampupwide-reachingpolicyimplementationtoachievethesegoals.Theadoptionofa
carbonbudgetframeworkinthedraftPlanisawelcomedevelopment;however,this
frameworkisnotrigorouslyapplied.33Furthermore,thedraftPlanisrequiredtosetthe
32MoreinformationabouttheNationalDialogueonClimateChangecanbeviewedat:http://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/energy/topics/Energy-Initiatives/Pages/NDCC.aspx33Anemissionstargetcanbeexpressedintwoways:
SubmissiontotheDepartmentofCommunications,ClimateAction&Environment’sontheDraftNationalMitigationPlan.April2017.
13
parametersforotherMinisterstoframetheirsectoralmitigationplans.Thisisasintendedin
theClimateAct(2015).Howeverthereisnoindicationofthemannerinwhichthisistobe
achievedorwhatsupportwillbeprovidedtoindividualDepartmentstoenablethemto
complywiththeoverallnationalcarbonbudget.
Recommendation:Toprovideausefulguideforpolicydevelopmentand
implementation,werecommendthatthefinalPlanshouldcontainanoverall
carbonbudgetfortheachievementoftheNationalTransitionObjectiveby2050
(thiscalculationismadebelow).Withinthatoverallbudget,thePlanshouldalso
determineacarbonbudgetforthefiveyeartimeframeitcoversandproceedto
allocateavailableemissionsandreductioneffortsbetweensectorstoachieve
thecontinuous,substantialandsustaineddecarbonisationthatisrequired
economywide.
Ireland’s2020targets
TheEPAhasconsistentlystatedthatcurrentplansandpoliciesareinsufficienttobringIreland
inlinewithits2020targets,strongincentivesareneededtomoveawayfromfossilfuel
dependency,andIreland’scurrentemissionstrajectorydemonstratestheneedfornewand
innovativemeasurestomeetthechallengesIrelandfaces.34
1. An"end-point"reductionlevel:apercentagereductioninannualemissionsbyacertainyear,relativeto
somereferenceyear.Initselfsuchatargetsaysnothingabouttheplannedpathwayofemissionsoverthisperiod(theymightdeclinesteadily,ormightgoupfirstandthensubsequentlydeclinemorequicklyetc.):butthisdetailedpathwaymaymakeabigdifferencetotheactualclimateimpacts(eveniftheend-pointtargetismet).Hence,anend-pointtargetinitselfisapoortoolforpolicyplanning.
2. Thetotalamountofaccumulatedemissionsallowedoveracertaintime(or,indeed,foralltimeintothefuture).Thisisknownasacarbonbudget.Thesciencetellsusthat,foranygiventemperatureincreaselimit,thereisacorresponding,finite,remainingamountofglobalatmosphericcapacitytoabsorbemissions,largelyregardlessofhowlongorhowshortaperiodthosetotalemissionsarespreadover.Carbonbudgetsarebetterplanningtools,astheyreflectthe"zerosum"natureofthetrade-offsofremainingemissionsacrosssectorsandacrosstime.Ifwecontinuetoemitmorenow,wemustemitevenlessinthefuture(i.e.,thedetailedshapeofthereductionpathwaydoesn'treallymatteraslongasthecumulativetotalisthesame).Ifonesectorisallowedagreatershareoftheavailablebudget,someothersector(s)mustbeallocatedless.Onagloballevel,whenonecountryannexestoitselfagreatershareoftheremainingglobalbudget,itisessentiallyexpectingotherstosettleforless.
Irelandhasusedbothwaysofexpressingtargetsinthepast.Forexample,theKyototargetforthe2008-2012periodwasexpressedbothasalimitonemissionsof13%above1990levels,andastotalemissionsof314MtCO2.34See:‘Greenhousegasemissionsprojectedtoincreasestronglyaseconomicgrowthtakeshold’.EPAPressrelease,April13th,2017.Availableat:http://www.epa.ie/newsandevents/news/name,62088,en.html
SubmissiontotheDepartmentofCommunications,ClimateAction&Environment’sontheDraftNationalMitigationPlan.April2017.
14
Ireland’s2020climatetargetistoreducecombinedemissionsfromtransport,buildingsand
agricultureby20%below2005levels.35ThedraftPlanexpressesthis2020targetasacarbon
budgetof338MtCO2efor2013-2020.Asacknowledgedearlierinthissubmission,thedraft
PlanconcedesthatIreland(alongsideonlyasmallnumberofotherEUcountries)issettomiss
its2020targets:emissionswillbe,atbest,6%below2005levels.TheEPAprojectstotalnon-
ETSemissionsfortheperiodwillexceed350MtCO2e,anemissionsgaptotargetof12MtCO2.
InthedraftPlan,theGovernmentcontendsthatIreland’s2020emissionstargetis
‘misinformed’and‘notconsistent’.Thereissomeacademicdebateabouttheprecisebasisfor
calculatingthistargetinsidetheoverallEUtargetframework,butisnotcredibleasthe
dominantreasonforIrelandbeingsoofftrackonour2020targets.Historically,Irishclimate
policyhassufferedfromanimplementationgapoverthelasttwodecades.Thestated
objectiveof2000and2007NationalClimateChangeStrategieswastoensurethatclimate
commitmentswouldbemetinacoherentandcost-efficientmanner.Whilecertainmeasures
adoptedwereimplementedasplanned,manyweresubjecttosignificantdelayorwerenot
implementedatall.AccordingtoIIEAanalysts,hadthemeasurescontainedinthose
documentsbeenimplementedinatimelymanner,Ireland’sclimatecommitmentscouldhave
beenachieved.36
WithinthisdraftPlan,theGovernmentalsoattributesIreland’sfailuretomeetits2020
targetsto‘reducedinvestmentcapacityovertheperiodoftheeconomicdownturn’.We
acknowledgetherewereinvestmentrestrictionscreatedbytheeconomicrecession(which
forexample,constrainedretrofittingofbuildings).However,therecessionalsocontributed
directlytosignificantlyreducingemissionsovertheaffectedyears.Moreover,therehasbeen
afailurebytheGovernment,inrecentyears,todelivereffectivemeasurestodecouple
resumedeconomicgrowthfromincreasingemissions.
35EmissionsfromtheenergysectorarecoveredbyaEuropean-wideEmissionsTradingScheme(ETS),howeverIrelanddoeshavenationaltargetstoincreaserenewableenergyinelectricity,transportandheat.36Curtin,J.,andHanrahan,G.(2012)Whylegislate?DesigningaClimateLawforIreland.Dublin:TheInstituteofInternationalandEuropeanAffairs.Availableat:http://www.iiea.com/publications/why-legislate-designing-a-climate-law-for-ireland
SubmissiontotheDepartmentofCommunications,ClimateAction&Environment’sontheDraftNationalMitigationPlan.April2017.
15
Thishistoricalimplementationgaphasbeencompoundedbyanabsenceofpolicyplanning;it
isdifficulttopointtoanysubstantialnewmeasuresadoptedsincethe2020targetperiod
commencedin2013.Furthermore,theveryfactthatthedraftmitigationPlanonachieving
targetsfor2013-2020isbeingpublishedin2017(amidpointthroughtherequiredtime
frame,andfiveyearssincethelastactionplanexpired)reflectsadeeplyconcerninglackof
intent.Thisdelaywillonlyintensifytheshortandlong-termcostsdetailedintheopening
sectionofthissubmission(Section2).
Ireland’sproposed2030targets
Ireland’sprovisionaltargetfor2030isa30%cutintheannualaggregateemissionsofthe
transport,buildingsandagriculturesectors.Thecarbonbudgetforthesesectorsis
approximately383MtCO2efor2021to2030.Basedoncurrenttrends,theEPAprojectthat
Irelandwillproducealmost456MtCO2eoverthesameperiod;thisleavesanemissionsgapof
73milliontonnes,representinga19%overshootonthecarbonbudget.37Despitethe
considerablefinancialpenaltiesIrelandmayfaceoverthecomingdecadeto2030andthe
significantlocalandglobalhumancosts(asdetailedearlierinSection2),thedraftPlanfailsto
specifyhowtheGovernmentintendstoclosethisemissionsgaptotarget.38
ItisasignificantconcernthatthedraftPlanindicatesthattheGovernment’scurrentclimate
planistoputoffactionandinvestmentnowandinsteadknowinglyexposeIrishsocietyto
financialpenaltiesthatcouldbeequivalenttothelevelsofspendingcutsduringtheyearsof
thefinancialBailout(seefootnote23).ItisalsonotablethattheEU’scollectiveandMember
StatetargetswillhavetoincreaseundertheratchetmechanismundertheParisAgreement.
37EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(2013)Ireland’sGreenhouseGasEmissionsProjections2012-2030.Wexford,Ireland;EPA.Availableat:https://www.epa.ie/pubs/reports/air/airemissions/EPA_GHG_Emission_Proj_pub_2013_FINAL.pdf38Theseemissionsgapfiguresarebasedonaproposed2030target.AsnegotiationsonthistargetmovetotheCouncilofMinisters,therearesignsthatothergovernments,mostnotableGermany,mayrejectanyconcessionsgrantedtoIreland.Seeforexample:‘Germanycoolshopesonclimatetargets’.TheTimes.April2nd,2017.Availableat:https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/germans-cool-hopes-on-climate-targets-6w52zml06
SubmissiontotheDepartmentofCommunications,ClimateAction&Environment’sontheDraftNationalMitigationPlan.April2017.
16
Ireland’s2050NationalTransitionObjective
Thenationalpolicyposition,adoptedbytheGovernmentin2014(pre-Paris),definesthe2050
mitigationtargetasatleastan80%reductionincombinedannualemissionsfromenergy,
transport,andbuildings,andanapproachtocarbonneutralityinagricultureandland-use
thatdoesn’tcompromisesustainablefoodproduction.Thepolicyring-fencesallavailable
nationalgreenhousegassinksfromlandusetobecountedasoffsetsagainstagriculture-
relatedemissions;requiringallothersectorstoundertakecollectiveemissionscutsofatleast
80%comparedto1990levels,withnooffsetting“flexibility”.
Overall,theobjectiveisatthelowerendofambitionoftheagreedEUobjectiveof80-95%
reductionintotalannualemissionsby2050,andhasnotbeenupdatedtoreflectthegoalsof
theParisAgreement(seebelow).39
Forelectricity,buildingandtransportsectors:
• In2015,emissionsamountedto41milliontonnesperannum,17%above1990levels;
• The2050targetissevenmilliontonnes(incomparison,1990levelswere35Mt);
• The2050targetrequiresIrelandtoreduceemissionsby5%year-on-year,everyyear,
betweennowand2050;
• Expressedasacarbonbudgetfortheperiod2016-2050,thisamountstoalimiton
combinedemissionsfromallsectorsexceptagricultureof,atmost,653milliontonnes
ofcarbondioxide.
Yet,basedoncurrentEPAanalysis,emissionsareprojectedtoincreasetonearlytwoanda
halftimesthatlimit,atotalof1585milliontonnesofCO2–anovershootof932million
tonnes.Asis,thecurrentdraftPlanwouldthereforeresultinanovershootofthe2050
objectivebyalmostonebilliontonnesofcarbondioxide.Thetotalavailablecarbonbudgetfor
2016-2050wouldalreadybeexhaustedby2030onthecurrentbusiness-as-usualemissions
trajectory(seegraphbelow).
39Notably,theEuropeanUnion2030targetiscurrentlynotconsistentwithlimitingtemperaturerisetobelow2°C,letalonetolimitingtheincreaseto1.5°C.
SubmissiontotheDepartmentofCommunications,ClimateAction&Environment’sontheDraftNationalMitigationPlan.April2017.
17
During1990-2015,annualemissionsfromtheagriculturesectordecreasedby14%(from21
milliontonnesto18milliontonnesofcarbondioxideequivalent(MtCO2e).Basedonareview
ofanalysisbyTeagasc,Weestimatethatby2050Ireland’srecognisedcarbonsinkswillhavea
capacityofbetweencurrentlevelsof3.5milliontonnesperyear(i.e.,currentsinkpotential)
andamaximumofninemilliontonnesperyear(i.e.,maximumsinkpotential).
● Underthemaximumsinkscenario,evenwithallthisenhancedsinkactivityallocatedto
theagriculturalsector,agriculturalemissionsmuststillbehalvedfrom18milliontonnes
toninemilliontonnesperyearby2050.Thisrepresentsyear-on-yearreductionsof2%a
year,everyyearbetweennowand2050.
● Underthecurrentsinkscenario,anemissionsreductionintheagriculturalsectorfrom
18milliontonnesto3.5milliontonnesperyearisrequiredby2050.Thiswould
0.00
5.00
10.00
15.00
20.00
25.00
30.00
35.00
40.00
45.00
50.00
2015 2025 2035 2045
The National Transition Objective carbon budget to 2050: Current projections until budget exhausted versus sustained effort curve.
Projected Emissions until NTO 2050 carbon budget exhausted
Sustained effort 5%/year within NTO 2050 carbon budget
SubmissiontotheDepartmentofCommunications,ClimateAction&Environment’sontheDraftNationalMitigationPlan.April2017.
18
representa5%perannumreduction,everyyearbetweennowand2050,thesamelevel
ofeffortastherestoftheeconomyandsociety.
ThedraftmitigationPlanoffersnosuggestionofagriculturepoliciescommensuratewitheven
thelowerendoftheseabsoluteemissionreductionrequirements.
Recommendation:Themitigationplanmustberevisedtooutlinehowthe
GovernmentintendstoclosethegapbetweencurrentprojectionsandIreland’s
2020and2030EUtargets,whilebeingconsistentwiththenational2050
objectiveofan80%cutinnetannualGHGemissions.
HowdoesthedraftPlanmeasureupcomparedtoIreland’sPariscommitments?
Combinedinternationalactionplansare,asyet,inadequatetoachievingthegoalsoftheParis
Agreement(i.e.,holdingtheincreaseintheglobalaveragetemperaturerisetowellbelow2°C
abovepre-industriallevelsandpursuingeffortstolimittemperatureincreaseto1.5°Cabove
pre-industriallevels).IndependentanalysisconductedbyClimateActionTrackerindicatesthat
existingNationallyDeterminedContributions(NDCs),ornationalpledges,madeunderthe
ParisAgreementarenotinlinewiththetemperaturegoalsagreedinParis.Currentpledges
stilladduptoapproximately2.8°Cincreaseinglobalwarming.
AccordingtocalculationsbytheClimateEquityCalculator,atooldevelopedbytheStockholm
EnvironmentInstitutetoestimatethefairshareeffortforindividualcountries,Irelandmust
reduceallgreenhousegasemissionstozerowithinadecadetodoitsfairshareofkeeping
globalwarmingwithinthebare2°Climit.Inaddition,Irelandwouldhavetofinanceadditional
overseasmitigationmeasures.TheClimateFairSharesmodel(whichappliesamoreflexible
balancebetweenachievingdomesticreductionsandfundingoverseasmitigation)estimates
thatIreland’sequitable(“fairshare”)contributionwouldbetoreduceemissionsby53%-63%
below1990levelsby2025,andfundoverseasactionbyUS$4.29billionperannum.This
wouldlimitannualemissionsin2025tobetween20-26milliontonnesofCO2e,comparedto
EPAprojectionsofaround63MtCO2e.Thisrepresentsanemissionsgapofaround40million
tonnesperannumalreadyin2025,thesameasIreland’stotalemissionsfromallsectors
exceptagriculturein2015.Currently,therefore,thedraftPlanimpliesaplantoemitthree
timestheannualemissionsofIreland’sfairshareofglobaleffortundertheParisAgreement
SubmissiontotheDepartmentofCommunications,ClimateAction&Environment’sontheDraftNationalMitigationPlan.April2017.
19
by2025.WithinthelimitsindicatedbytheAgreement,Ireland’sentireannualcarbonbudget
wouldbeexhaustedbyemissionsfromtheagriculturalsectoraloneby2025.
AllexistingEUandIrishtargetswillhavetoberadicallyrevisedstrengthenedinthelightof
theParisgoals,andbecauseofthecumulativenatureofcarbondioxidepollution,Ireland’s
continuingdelayinincreasingactionandambitiondrasticallyincreasestheeffortthatwillbe
requiredineveryfutureyear.ThedraftmitigationPlanmustindicateindetailhowIrelandis
preparingtostrengthenambitionandsettheagendaintermsofapproachforclimatepolicy
planninginlinewiththegoalsoftheParisAgreement.
Recommendation:ThemitigationplanmustdemonstrateIreland’sintention
andcapacitytoenhanceclimateactioninlinewithitscommitmentsunderthe
ParisAgreement.
Inthefollowingsections,weaddressdetailedaspectsofthePlanandmakerecommendations
forconcretechangesthatshouldbemade.
5. DoestheNMPcommencethephaseoutoffossilfuels?
ThecurrentoverarchingvisionofIreland’senergypolicy,asarticulatedinthe2015White
Paper,istobecomezerocarbonwithaconcretetargetofan80-95%reductioninannual
greenhousegasemissionsfromtheenergysectorby2050(relativeto1990levels).Ireland
hasanabundanceofrenewableenergyandcanbecomeamajorbeneficiaryoftheglobalshift
towardscarbon-freeeconomies.40Whiledomesticrenewableenergysourceshaveincreased
inIreland,itiscleartheoverallcontributionfromrenewableenergyremainslow.41Currently
Irelandreliesonimportedfossilfuelsforabout85%ofitsenergyneeds,andwithinthe
electricitysectorabout75%ofIreland’selectricityisgeneratedusingcoal,gasandpeat.
40EnvironmentalProtectionAgency.Ireland’sSustainableEnergy.Availableat:https://www.epa.ie/media/epa_factsheet_energy_v2.pdf41SustainableEnergyAuthorityofIreland(2016)EnergyinIreland1990-2015.Availableat:http://www.seai.ie/Publications/Statistics_Publications/Energy_in_Ireland/Energy-in-Ireland-1990-2015.pdf
SubmissiontotheDepartmentofCommunications,ClimateAction&Environment’sontheDraftNationalMitigationPlan.April2017.
20
AnalysisbyfinancialanalystsintheCityofLondonshowedthattocomplywiththeParis
Agreementupto80%offossilfuelreservesownedbyfossilfuelcompaniesmustnotbe
burned.42Furthermore,2016researchindicatedthatfullexploitationofcurrentlyoperating
fieldswillnotbepossibleiftemperaturelimitsadoptedintheParisAgreementaretobe
adheredto.43
WhilethedraftNMPacknowledgestheneedtodiversifyIreland’srenewablesectorandto
phaseoutenergyfrompeatandcoal,thereisnoclearoutlineprovidedonhowandwhen
theseobjectiveswillbeachieved:nonewactionsareadoptedfordecarbonisingelectricity
generation,nofixeddecisionismaderegardingthefutureofMoneypoint,44andnomeasures
areincludedregardingtheterminationofpeatharvestingforelectricitygenerationbefore
2030.
IntheiranalysisoftheNMP,theIIEA(2017)pointtotheUnitedKingdom’sDepartmentfor
Business,EnergyandIndustrialStrategy’sproposalsfortheUK’senergysystemin2035asa
relevantexamplethatcouldbedrawnuponbyIrelandinaddressingsimilarchallenges.45We
acknowledgetheamendmentintheaccompanyingSEAEnvironmentalReporttotheNMP
thatastudybeundertakeninthenexttwoyearstoprovidearoadmapandinformthenext
NMPconcerningthefutureofMoneypoint,howeverclarityisurgentlyrequired.46
Recommendation:Fromaclimateactionperspective,itisnecessarythatclarity
beprovidedthattheobjectiveofthisroadmapmustbetomoveMoneypoint
42CarbonTrackerInitiative(2014)UnburnableCarbon–Aretheworld’sfinancialmarketscarryingacarbonbubble?Availableat:http://www.carbontracker.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Unburnable-Carbon-Full-rev2-1.pdf43OilChangeInternational(2016)TheSky’sLimit:WhytheParisClimateGoalsrequireamanageddeclineoffossilfuelproduction.Availableat:http://priceofoil.org/content/uploads/2016/09/OCI_the_skys_limit_2016_FINAL_2.pdf44TheEnergyWhitePaper(2015)containsacommitmenttomakekeydecisionsonthefutureoftheMoneypointstationbefore2020.Nodecisionhasbeenmade.45Curtin,J.(2017)AnAssessmentofIreland’sFirstDraftMitigationPlan:DoesitlaysolidfoundationsforLow-CarbonDevelopment?Availableat:http://www.iiea.com/ftp/Publications/2017/IIEA_National%20Mitigaton%20Plan%20Assessment%20Report_2017.pdf46See:http://www.dccae.gov.ie/documents/SEA%20Environmental%20Report.pdf
SubmissiontotheDepartmentofCommunications,ClimateAction&Environment’sontheDraftNationalMitigationPlan.April2017.
21
awayfromcoalburning.Wealsosupporta2016recommendationfromthe
CCACfortheterminationofpeatfiringofpowerstationsasanobviousstepin
shiftingpolicytowardsdecarbonisationandawayfromfossilfuel
dependence.47Furthermore,theNMPshouldrecommendabanonfuture
explorationforfossilfuelsinIreland(includingterritorialwaters).
Commitmenttothepreparationofoptionsfortheremovaloffossilfuelsubsidiesinthedraft
Planiswelcome.Theprogressiveeliminationofsubsidiestofossilfuelenergycanfacilitatea
shifttosignificantemissionsreductionsatalowsocialcost.48Financialsubsidiesshouldbe
redirectedtoinvestmentsinrenewableenergyandlowcarbondevelopmentandsustainable,
progressiveenergypovertyalleviation.Thereisconsiderableneedforaplanhowever,onhow
torespondtothesocialandeconomicneedsofindividualsandcommunitiesaffectedbythe
phasingoutoffossilfuels.Across-agencytaskforce(asisoftencreatedwhenlarge
multinationalemployersclosedown)supportedbypoliticalinitiativeandengagementand
chargedwiththeresponsibilityofidentifyingalternative,goodquality,sustainablejob
opportunitiesforaffectedcommunitieswouldhelpminimiseandaverttheimpendingimpact
onemployment.Shiftingsubsidiesintootherpoliciesandsectorsisessentialtoprogressa
sustainableapproachtoenergypoverty,provideretrainingandalternativejobstoreplace
thosethatmustbephasedout,andrenewable-basedenergysecurity.
Recommendation:WesupporttherecommendationfromtheIIEA(2017)that
individualclimatepoliciesbesociallyandrurallyproofedandthatGovernment
committoproactivelymanageimpactsandsmooththetransitionforaffected
workers,enterprisesandcommunities.49
47Thesestationsarehighlyinefficient,providingjust9%ofIreland’selectricitybutproducing27%ofemissionsfromelectricitygeneration.Moreover,peatfiringissubsidisedtothetuneof€120millionayear.48SomanathanE,SternerT,SugiyamaT,ChimanikireD,DubashNK,Essandoh-YedduJK,FifitaS,GoulderL,etal.(2014).Chapter15-Nationalandsub-nationalpoliciesandinstitutions.In:ClimateChange2014:MitigationofClimateChange.IPCCWorkingGroupIIIContributiontoAR5.Eds.In,,CambridgeUniversityPress49Curtin,J.(2017)AnAssessmentofIreland’sFirstDraftMitigationPlan:DoesitlaysolidfoundationsforLow-CarbonDevelopment?Availableat:http://www.iiea.com/ftp/Publications/2017/IIEA_National%20Mitigaton%20Plan%20Assessment%20Report_2017.pdf
SubmissiontotheDepartmentofCommunications,ClimateAction&Environment’sontheDraftNationalMitigationPlan.April2017.
22
WewelcomedthepassageoftheFossilFuelDivestmentBilltoThirdStageinJanuarythis
year.ThiswasanimportantsignalofrecognitionbyamajorityintheOireachtasofthe
evidencethatthebulkofremainingfossilfuelreserveswillneedtoremainunburned,and
thereisanimperativetophaseoutfossilfuelsassoonaspossible.
Recommendation:DivestingtheIrelandStrategicInvestmentFundoffossilfuel
assetsandthephase-outoffossilfuelsubsidiesshouldbeadvancedswiftlyas
criticalstepstorespondtothecommitmentinArticle2oftheParisClimate
Agreementtoalignfinanceflowswiththedecarbonisationagenda,andas
importantstatementsofintentonIreland’scommitmenttobuildingafossil
freefuture.
6. DoesthePlanrampuprenewableenergyandkick-startcommunity
ownership?
The2015WhitePaperonenergyrecognisesthescaleofthechallengeoftransitioningour
energysystemtozerocarbon,andinparticular,acknowledgestheimportanceofcitizenand
communityparticipationinthetransitionprocess.Whilelocaloppositioncanpresenta
significantbarriertotheexpansionoftherenewablesectorinIreland,50communitiescanalso
playaconsiderableandpositiveroleinthetransitiontoalowcarbonsociety.51Asthedraft
Planrightlyacknowledges,ifemissionreductiontargetsaretobemet,increasedsocietal
enablementandengagementinmitigationisessential.
However,wehaveconcernsthatthedraftPlan’scurrentapproachof‘engagement,
participationandacceptance’suggestsatop-downprocessthatifusedasthesolemethodof
engagementwillminimisesocialacceptanceofpolicymeasures,andfailtorealisethe
50Loring,J.(2007)‘WindEnergyplanninginEngland,WalesandDenmark:Factorsinfluencingprojectsuccesses’.EnergyPolicy35(4):2648–2660.51Middlemiss,L.K.andParrish,B.(2010)‘Buildingcapacityforlow-carboncommunities:Theroleofgrassrootsinitiatives’.EnergyPolicy,38(12):7559-7566.
SubmissiontotheDepartmentofCommunications,ClimateAction&Environment’sontheDraftNationalMitigationPlan.April2017.
23
principleofhavingcitizens‘atthecentreofthetransitionandtheenergyindustry.52
Communityownershipiscentraltoachievingpublicacceptanceofrenewableenergyprojects
andtowardsclimatepolicymoregenerally,andachangeindevelopmentmodelto
encompasscommunityownershiphelpsfosterapositiveeffectonpublicattitudes.53,54While
thedraftplanacknowledgesitisconsideringpricesupportformicro-generation,thereisno
clearindicationofanyplantoestablishaframeworkforcommunityownership,asisthecase
inotherEuropeancountries.Therehasbeenasignificantincreaseinrecentyearsin
renewablegeneration;nevertheless,localcommunitiesinIrelandownlessthan0.3%ofthis.
ThiscontrastssharplywithotherEuropeancountries–suchasGermany–where1.5million
citizensgeneratesolarelectricityontheirroofsandintheircommunitiesandwhere
householdsownover50%ofallrenewableenergy.
CurrentlyinIreland,thereisnonationalstrategyforcommunityenergy.Energypolicy
provideslittleregardtothepotentialroleofcommunityenergy,andprovidesnoclear
incentivetosupportthedevelopmentofcommunityenergyinIreland.Thereisnoguaranteed
Feed-in-Tariffofferedforexportingsmallscaleelectricitygenerationtothegrid.
ThedraftPlanaskshowcommunityengagementandacceptancecanbeenhancedandwhat
otherrenewabletechnologiesmightbeconsideredtoprogressthetransitiontoalowcarbon
society.Inresponsetothisquestion,wecontendthatthereisscopeforsignificantinvestment
insolarpowergenerationinIreland.55Solarpoweroffersauniqueopportunitytoprovide
diversityinelectricitygenerationandforcitizensandcommunitiestoparticipateinandtake 52In2014,aNESCreportrecommendedthataspartofIreland’snationaltransition,‘nationalpolicyneedstocreateaframeworkthat,inthefirstinstance,openspossibilitiesatlocallevel,assistsinclusiveexplorationofthosepossibilitiesandbringstheresultingsettlementontoanationalprocessofbenchmarkingandlearning’.Engagementneedstogobeyondhelpingcommunities‘engageintheplanningprocess.’(NationalEconomicandSocialCouncil(2014)Report139:WindEnergyinIreland:BuildingCommunityEngagementandSocialSupport.Availableat:http://www.nesc.ie/en/news-events/news/press-releases/latest/nesc-publishes-report-139-wind-energy-in-ireland-building-community-engagement-and-social-support/)53Warren,C.andMcFadyen,M.(2010)Doescommunityownershipaffectpublicattitudestowindenergy?AcasestudyfromsouthwestScotland.LandUsePolicy,27(2):204-213.54Enevoldsen,P.andSovacool,B.(2016)Examiningthesocialacceptanceofwindenergy:PracticalguidelinesforonshorewindprojectdevelopmentinFrance.RenewableandSustainableEnergyReviews,53:178-184.55IntheUnitedKingdom,10GWofsolarpowerhasbeendeployedsince2010.InIreland,whereasolarpanelwillperformaswellasintheUKorGermany,thereisonly2MWofsolarelectricityinstalled.
SubmissiontotheDepartmentofCommunications,ClimateAction&Environment’sontheDraftNationalMitigationPlan.April2017.
24
ownershipoftherenewabletransition.Householdsandcommunitiescouldreducetheir
demandforfossilfuelelectricity,lowertheirenergybills,andgenerateanincomefromthe
excesscleanenergytheyproduce.Withoutaguaranteedpaymentformicro-generation,
includingsolar,however,this“rooftoprevolution”willnothappeninIreland.Todate,over60
TDsandSenatorshavewrittentoMinisterNaughtensupportingcallsforafairpriceformicro-
generationandsolarelectricity.56
Recommendation:Werecommendthatafairpricebeprovidedforsolar
electricitysuppliedtothegrid,theintroductionofmeasurestoenable
community-ledprojectssuchassimplifyinggridaccess,andtheimplementationof
aDanish-stylesharedownershipschememandatingthatdeveloper-ledprojects
offer20%oftheequitytolocalcommunities.
7. DoestheNMPrealigntransportinvestmenttoreduceemissions?
ThereisanincreasingurgencytofocusondecarbonisingIreland’stransportsector.Total
annualtransportemissionsincreasedby4%in2015alone,havedoubledoverallsince1990,
andstronggrowthinemissionsfromtransportisprojectedovercomingyears.Incentivesin
recentyearstochangefrompetroltodieselintheprivatecarfleethavecreatedsignificantair
qualityproblems,especiallyinurbanareas,andincentivesarenowrequirednotonlyto
encourageuserstoswitchtoelectricvehicles,butalsotousealternativemodesof
transport.57
In2009,theGovernmentadoptedSmarterTravelasnationalpolicy.58Thepolicyincludedthe
followingtargetstobeachievedby2020:
56Acopyofthisletterisavailableat:http://www.stopclimatechaos.ie/download/pdf/letter_to_minister_naughten_on_payment_for_solar_elctricity.pdf57See:https://www.epa.ie/media/Chapter10_Environment_Transport.pdf58DepartmentofTransport.(2009)SmarterTravel:ASustainableTransportFuture.ANewTransportPolicyforIreland2009-2020.StationeryOffice:Dublin.Availableat:http://www.smartertravel.ie/sites/default/files/uploads/2012_12_27_Smarter_Travel_english_PN_WEB%5B1%5D.pdf
SubmissiontotheDepartmentofCommunications,ClimateAction&Environment’sontheDraftNationalMitigationPlan.April2017.
25
• ThetransportsectormakingameaningfulcontributiontoIreland'sEUclimatechange
commitmentsbyreducinggreenhousegasemissions;
• 500,000morepeopletakingalternativemeanstocommutetoworksothatthetotal
shareofcommutingbycardropsfrom65%to45%;
• Walking,cyclingandpublictransportrisingto55%oftotalcommuterjourneystowork;
• Thetotalkilometrestravelledbycarnotincreasingsignificantlyfrom2009levels.
Noneofthesetargetsarebeingmet,andtheNMPfailstoaddresshowtheobjectivesofthe
SmarterTravelpolicywillbeachieved.Forexample,theNMPincludesnooutlineofhowit
intendstobridgethegapbetweenthecurrentrateof3%ofalljourneysbeingmadebybike,
andthe2020targetof10%.
Recommendation:ToachievetheobjectivesofSmarterTravel,we
recommendsthattheNMPrebalanceexistingfundingawayfromroad
infrastructureandprioritiseinvestmentinwalking,utilitycyclingandclean,
sustainablepublictransport.Aswellasreducingemissions,redirectingexisting
fundingwillcreatebenefitsforpublichealth,cleanerair,andimprovedpublic
spaces.59
WewelcomeanumberofinitiativesidentifiedintheNMP,forexample,expansionoftheBike
toWorkScheme,thedevelopmentofatask-forceforelectricvehicles,andareviewof
nationalparking.Weareconcernedhowever,thatthecurrentplanisweakonreducingthe
levelofdependencyonprivatecarownershipastheprimarymeansoftravel,andinstead,
over-reliesontechnologicalprogressionandbiofuelstodecarbonisetransport.Thiswait-and-
seeapproachamplifiespolicyuncertaintyandinstability.Furthermore,therelianceonprivate
transportfailstoaddresspersistentproblemsrelatedtocongestion.Intheirpolicybriefon
themitigationPlan,theIIEAsupportstherecommendationthatthecasebemadeforfurther
investmentinpublictransportintheCapitalReviewprocess.Theyarguethepointthatthe
59TheSmarterTravelInitiativehasbeenallocated€100mfundingundertheCapitalPlanBuildingonRecovery:
InfrastructureandCapitalInvestment2016-2021.Theoveralltotaltransportbudgetisapproximately€10Billion.
SubmissiontotheDepartmentofCommunications,ClimateAction&Environment’sontheDraftNationalMitigationPlan.April2017.
26
currentemphasisonincreasedinvestmentinroadinfrastructureis‘incompatiblewith
decarbonisation’.60
Inanumberofinstances,thedraftPlanreferstoincreaseduseofbiofuelsandexpansionof
theBiofuelsObligationSchemeasameansofdecarbonisingtransport.IntheSEAReport
accompanyingthedraftNMPitisacknowledgedthatwhilebiofuelsmayhaveanimportant
roletoplay,biofuelcultivationcanresultinnegativelandusechange,erodefoodsecurity,
contributetobiodiversitylossandstillinvolveverysignificant(andpoorlymonitoredor
verified)lifecycleemissions.Howtheseconcernscanbeaddressedinawaythatissocially
andenvironmentallyjustneedstobeconsideredinthefinalNMP.
Recommendation:TheNMPshouldcommitinthenewnationalplanning
frameworktofacilitatinglow-carbonmobility,particularlybyrequiring(asa
licensingcondition)fullyintegratedtransportnetworksacrosspublicand
privatesectors,offeringseamlessconnectivitytopassengers.61
Theintroductionofcleaner,lowemissionpublictransportisavitalcomponentofalow
carbontransportfuture,boththroughthereductionofemissions,andbyreplacingcar
journeysthroughmodalshift.Forpublictransport,conversiontoelectricpowermakessense,
withinbuiltairqualityimprovements.Othersustainableoptionsmayincludetheuseofbio-
methane,alowercarbonformofnaturalgasproducedbythedecompositionoforganic
wastematerialviaanaerobicdigestion(suchasmunicipalwaste,orfarmslurry)-analready
prevalentsourceoffuelinanumberofEuropeancities.TheUK’sLowCarbonVehicle
PartnershipGreenBusInitiativeprovidessomeusefulexamplesofwhatcanbeimplemented
inIreland.
60Curtin,J.(2017)AnAssessmentofIreland’sFirstDraftMitigationPlan:DoesitlaysolidfoundationsforLow-CarbonDevelopment?Availableat:http://www.iiea.com/ftp/Publications/2017/IIEA_National%20Mitigaton%20Plan%20Assessment%20Report_2017.pdf61Thiscommitmentwouldspecificallyrequirezone,distance,ortime-basedfaresspanningarbitrarytransfersbetweenmodesandtransportoperators.Thecurrent“integratedticketing”approacheasestheadministrativeburdenforoperators,publicandprivate,butisnotpassenger-centredandinpracticeresultsinmultiple,separatefaresfordiscreteelementsofwhatis,infact,asinglepassengerjourney.
SubmissiontotheDepartmentofCommunications,ClimateAction&Environment’sontheDraftNationalMitigationPlan.April2017.
27
Recommendation:WerecommendthattheNMPsupporttheconversionofpublic
transportvehiclestosustainableenergysources.
8. DoestheNMPputagricultureonapathtocarbonneutrality?
Thenationalobjectiveisthattotalannualemissionsfromagriculturein2050willbenomore
thanwhatisabsorbedannuallybyIreland’scarbonsinks(i.e.,forests,peatlands,and
grasslands).IntheirbriefontheNMP,theIIEA(2017)detailshowundercurrentprojections
to2030,theagriculturesectorcouldtakeupover51%ofIreland’stotalcarbonbudget,
leavinglittlescopeformanoeuvreorflexibilityinothersectors.62
TherehasbeennosubstantivediscussionwithinIrishsocietyonthecurrentpolicypush
towardsintensification.Thisisdespitethewiderimplicationsandchallengescreatedfor
addressingIreland’sclimatechallenge.Furthermore,theoptionofreducingemissionsby
decreasingherdsizesanddirectinganddiversifyingfarmingawayfromnon-sustainable
modelshasnotbeenpromotedasaviablepolicyoption.TheCCAC(2016)haveadvisedthat
theagriculturesector(incombinationwithforestryandotherland-usecategories)willneed
todetermineapathwaytoachievingits2050objective,andtheNMPshouldincludea
timelinefortheexpectedimplementationofsolutions.Thispathwayneedstoencompass
significantactionstoreduceemissionsandincreasecarbonuptakeinasustainableway.
Recommendation:Tosufficientlyoff-setagriculturalemissions,theNMPneeds
tooutlinewhatanenvironmentallyandsociallysustainablelevelofcarbonsink
is,whilegivingconsiderationstobiodiversity,recreationandagriculture.
ThedraftNMPoutlineshowtheagriculturalsectorinIrelandissignificanttothesustainable
developmentofaruraleconomyandthereforemustbebalancedwiththeenvironmental
objectiveofreducingemissions.Thisappealto“balance”positsanentirelyfalsedichotomy,
assumingemissionsreductionsandaresilientruraleconomyareinherentlyinconflict.Itfails
62Curtin,J.(2017)AnAssessmentofIreland’sFirstDraftMitigationPlan:DoesitlaysolidfoundationsforLow-CarbonDevelopment?Availableat:http://www.iiea.com/ftp/Publications/2017/IIEA_National%20Mitigaton%20Plan%20Assessment%20Report_2017.pdf
SubmissiontotheDepartmentofCommunications,ClimateAction&Environment’sontheDraftNationalMitigationPlan.April2017.
28
torecognisetheimportanceofdiversificationwithinaruraleconomy.Itisalsobasedonthe
premisethatthecurrent,dominantmodeloffarminginIrelandiseconomicallyand
environmentallysustainable.Yet,thismodelisheavilydependentuponpolicyandincentive
structuresandaconsiderableproportionofIrishfarmsareeconomicallyvulnerableandnon-
viablewithoutcurrentsubsidies.TheGovernmentshouldbeencouraginganeconomically
smartpathwayforagricultureandtheruraleconomybypromotingsustainablelanduse
diversification.
Recommendation:WehavearguedthatIreland’scurrentagricultureandland-
usepolicyisneither‘climate-smart’norsustainable,andIrelandshouldbe
supportingfarmerstotransitionawayfromruminantproductiontoamore
sustainablemodeloffarming.ThiscanbeachievedbyencouragingHighNature
Valuefarming,incentivisinglowcarbonfarmingandpromotingandsupporting
healthierandlessecologicallydamaginghumandiets.63
TheNMPreferstotheuseofforestryandbio-energyassuggestedoffsetsforagriculture-
relatedgreenhousegases.Inearly2017,IrelandwascriticisedbytheEuropeanclimateaction
network,CarbonMarketWatch,foradvocatingfortheuseofforestryoffsetstomeeteffort-
sharingtargets.ThenetworkrecommendsthatIrelandadvocateforreducingorremovingthe
optiontouseforestryoffsetstomeetitstargets.Wehavearguedthattheuseoflandsinksto
offsetagriculturalemissionswillachieveonlyasmallfractionoftherequiredemissions
reductionassuchlandsequestrationisimpermanentandhighlyuncertain.64Ifincorrectly
sited,widespreadafforestation,whichcreatesfundamentalchangesinecosystemfunction
andstructure,canpresentthreatstoelementsofIreland’sbiodiversityandaquaticsystems
overthelong-term.65,66Forestpolicyneedstobeequallycognisantofthefar-reaching
63See:StopClimateChaos/EnvironmentalPillar(2016)NotSoGreen:DebunkingtheMythsAroundIrishAgriculture.Availableat:http://www.stopclimatechaos.ie/download/pdf/not_so_green.pdf64Mackey,B.etal(2013)Untanglingtheconfusionaroundlandcarbonscienceandclimatechangemitigationpolicy,NatureClimateChange,3,522.65Graham,C.,Irwin,S.,Wilson,M.,Kelly,T.,Gittings,T.andO’Halloran,J.(2013)TrackingtheimpactofaffectationonbirdcommunitiesIrishForestry.Availableat:https://www.ucc.ie/en/media/research/planforbio/pdfs/09-Grahametal2013.pdf
SubmissiontotheDepartmentofCommunications,ClimateAction&Environment’sontheDraftNationalMitigationPlan.April2017.
29
environmentalimplicationsofafforestationalongsidethesocialandeconomicimpacts;
structuraldiversityofforestryisimportant.
Recommendation:Thedraftmitigationplanasksiftherearepoliciesand
abatementstrategiesthatshouldbeconsideredasleverstodevelopan
approachtocarbonneutrality.Peatlandrestorationissurprisinglyomitted
fromthedraftPlan.RestoringIreland’speatlandsasameansofemissions
reductionandcarbonstorageisanobviousmeasurewhichshouldbeincluded
inthefinalmitigationplan.
Becauseofpeatextraction,disturbance,andrelatedactivities(e.g.,combustion,horticulture),
Irishpeatlands(mostofwhicharemoderatelyorseverelydamaged)havebecomeasourceof
carbonemissions.Intheirhealthystate,peatlandswillnotonlystorecarbon,butalso
continuetoabsorbCO2astheyexpand.InIreland,nearintactpeatlandsmayactively
sequester,onaverage,57,402tonnesofcarbonperyear.67Forthispotentialtoberealised
however,strongerenforcementtoprotectpeatlands,rewettingandrestoration,andusing
alternativenon-peatsourcesforenergyproductionwillberequired.Basedontherecognition
ofthevalueofpeatlandsaslong-termcarbonsinks,Scotland’sDraftClimateChangePlan
(2017-2032)includestarget-drivenplansforpeatlandrestoration.Asimilarapproachcan
easilybeadoptedinIreland.
Recommendation:Wehavepreviouslyarguedthatifadequatelymanaged,
sequesteredcarboninpeatlandscouldprovideacheapmitigationmeasure,and
produceimportantincomeintermsofagri-climateenvironmentalmeasuresunder
theRuralDevelopmentPlanRegulations.68Suchmeasurescanbecomplementary
66Ormerod,SJ,O’Halloran,Gribbin,SD&Tyler,SJ(1991)TheecologyofDippersCincluscinclusinrelationtostreamacidityinuplandWales;Breedingperformance,Calciumphysiologyandnestlinggrowth.JournalofAppliedEcology,28:419-433.67Wilson,D.Müller,C.,andRenou-Wilson,F.(2013)CarbonemissionsandremovalsfromIrishpeatlands:
presenttrendsandfuturemitigationmeasures.IrishGeography,Vol.46(1-2):1-23.68See:StopClimateChaos/EnvironmentalPillar(2016)NotSoGreen:DebunkingtheMythsAroundIrishAgriculture.Availableat:http://www.stopclimatechaos.ie/download/pdf/not_so_green.pdf
SubmissiontotheDepartmentofCommunications,ClimateAction&Environment’sontheDraftNationalMitigationPlan.April2017.
30
tootherenvironmentalobligations,suchastheBirdsDirectiveandcommitments
undertheNationalPeatlandStrategyandtheEUBiodiversityStrategy.
9. Conclusion
Thenon-negotiablenatureofthephysicsofclimatechangeandtheimperativefortheState
toprotectitscitizensfrompreventableharmclearlyrequirethatambitiousandequitable
policiesandmeasurestowardsdecarbonisationneedtobeimplementedwithoutdelay,even
wherethisinvolvesdifficultpoliticaldecisionsandchallengingpolicycontexts.Inthis
submissiononthedraftNationalMitigationPlan,theCoalitionhaswelcomedanumberof
discretenewproposals–whichshouldbestrengthenedfurther–andhasexpressed
concerns,andmadeanumberofexplicitrecommendationstohelpstrengthenIreland’s
mitigationpolicyframeworkgoingforward.Aboveall,thissubmissionhassoughtto
demonstratethatthedraftPlancannotbeconsideredacceptable–intermsofambition
towardsmeetingIreland’snationalandinternationalclimateandenergycommitments–nor
inrelationtothetaskassignedtoitunderIreland’sClimateActionandLowCarbon
DevelopmentAct(2015).Theproposedapproachtopolicyplanning,thelevelofambition,
andhowclimateactionisframedrequirefundamentalchanges.
Irelandcannotaffordtoadoptawait-and-seeclimatepolicyapproach.Theframework
adoptedwithinthecurrentdraftignoresclimatescience,underestimatesthelong-term
climaterisks,andwillonlysufficetolimitthenationalconversationonclimatechangein
IrelandbydistractingattentionawayfromIreland’sclimateresponsibilitiesandthesignificant
economicandhumancostsresultingfromafailuretotakeaction.Everyyearofdelayin
reachingthe5%annualreductionrate–asoutlinedinthissubmission–increasesthe
challengeoverthelong-term,drivesupthecostoftransitionandunderminesIreland’s
opportunitytobenefitfromtheemergenceofthegreenglobaleconomy.Mostimportantly,
itsignalsanabsenceofintenttohonourcommitmentstointernationalpartnerstodeliveron
theParisAgreement,andaprofoundlackofsolidarityandrespectforthecountriesand
communitiesforwhomcurrentclimateimpactsarealreadytoomuch.
SubmissiontotheDepartmentofCommunications,ClimateAction&Environment’sontheDraftNationalMitigationPlan.April2017.
31
Addressingthegapsandweaknessesidentifiedinthissubmissioncangoasignificantwayto
providingamorerobustbasisforeffectiveandequitableclimatepolicyplanning,
implementationandreview.However,thetoolsalonewillnotbeenough.Politicaland
departmentalleadershipisurgentlyneededtoshiftthepublicandpoliticaldiscourse
currentlyreflectedinthedraftPlantoonethatenablesenergetic,ambitiousandurgent
climateaction.
i Stop Climate Chaos (SCC) is a coalition of 31 civil society organisations campaigning to
ensure Ireland plays its part in preventing runaway climate change. It was launched in 2007
and is the largest network of organisations campaigning for action on climate change in
Ireland. Its membership includes development, environmental, youth and faith-based
organisations.
The Environmental Pillar is made up of 28 national environmental non-governmental
organisations (NGOs) that work together to represent the views of the Irish environmental
sector. The Environmental Pillar creates and promotes policies that advance sustainable
development and acts as an advocacy coalition promoting sustainable solutions in areas such as
climate change, biodiversity, tree-cover, resource efficiency, transport, planning and water.