On Wednesday last I was delighted to speak at the seventh annual, student-run, Energy Night at NUI Galway. The theme of this year’s event was ‘Ireland’s Response to the Paris Agreement’.
Climate Change is probably one of the greatest challenges facing us – everyone across the world – and one doesn’t need to be an expert in climatology or meteorology to understand that Climate Change is happening and is having serious effects.
Thankfully, the challenge posed by Climate Change is being taken very seriously by the majority of countries as can be seen by the historic Paris Agreement of December 2015. This Agreement was signed and ratified by Ireland and enough countries to bring it into force in less than a year which is unprecedented for international agreements.
Achieving our targets as set by the Agreement and by the European Union, however, will involve everyone, every community and every sector. Tackling Climate Change will need to take into account other serious issues such as Energy Security and Food Security.
With the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act of 2015, the significant increase in the use of renewable energy technology, the substantial investment in energy efficiency schemes, such as the Warmer Homes Scheme and the new Energy Retrofit scheme, we have made a good start.
However, building on this progress and meeting the ambitious targets involves every individual and every community across the country.
Next week my colleague, Minister Denis Naughten, will lead the launch of Ireland’s first ever National Mitigation Plan. The Plan will be a whole-of-Government approach that will set out what Ireland is doing and is planning to do, to help our transition to a low-carbon, climate resilient and sustainable economy and society.
There will be a six week period for public consultation and this Plan, as with Climate Change, will affect every community and every sector, including agriculture, business, and transport. It is, therefore, important that as many people as possible participate in setting out our country’s plan to tackle Climate Change.
Transcript of speech given at Energy Night:
A dhaoine uaisle, Chair, fellow Panel members, it is a pleasure and a privilege to have the opportunity to speak to you this evening at the 7th annual Energy Night here at NUI Galway.
I would like to extend my congratulations to NUIG and the NUIG Energy Society for organising and hosting this most necessary and relevant event.
The Energy Night provides a unique platform for an informative and collaborative discussion about issues we are facing both nationally and globally in the struggle against climate change. Energy generation and energy security are closely linked to the emissions that are at the heart of the climate change debate, and to the issues I intend to discuss here this.
This year’s theme demonstrates a rational progression from last year’s focus on Ireland’s energy dependency and its implications for the future of our energy mix. I look forward to hearing from the other members of this panel and the discussion to follow.
Climate change and the Paris Agreement
Climate change is real. It is happening and it is happening now.
Climate Change is probably one of the greatest challenges facing us – everyone across the world – and one doesn’t need to be an expert in climatology or meteorology to understand that Climate Change is happening and is having serious effects.
It is a challenge which has been recognised by the global community for some time now. We have seen a range of European and global initiatives attempt to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases and to minimise our impact on the global environment.
Thankfully the challenge posed by Climate Change is being taken very seriously by the majority of countries as can be seen by the historic Paris Agreement of December 2015, the first comprehensive global climate agreement. It was signed and ratified by Ireland and enough countries to bring it into force in less than a year. This level of international commitment is unprecedented, and it reflects the global recognition of the urgent need to take action.
The Paris Agreement is based on the principle of action by all. It sets out a long-term goal to put the world on track to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees centigrade above pre-industrial levels, and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees.
It aims to increase the ability of all countries to deal with the impacts of climate change in a manner that does not threaten food production. It also has a goal of linking finance flows with the pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development. While recognising that some countries are better equipped to tackle climate change than others, the Paris Agreement contains commitments for everyone, incorporating solidarity for the poorest and most vulnerable. Its financial commitments are designed to build capacity, while ensuring that we all do our bit and work together to achieve its goals.
For the Paris Agreement to enter into force, 55% of the 195 Parties, representing 55% of global emissions, had to sign and ratify the Agreement. On the first day that it was available to sign, Ireland was one of 175 signatories.
The wave of global momentum continued through last year as sufficient Parties ratified the Agreement for it to enter into force on 4 November 2016, ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference – or COP22 – in Marrakesh. In Ireland, we completed our domestic ratification process on 4 November. The Agreement has now been signed by 193 Parties and ratified by 133 Parties.
So, clearly there is a strong political will across the globe to get things done. But how does this international momentum translate into action here in Ireland?
EU proposals to meet its Paris Agreement commitments
The Paris Agreement aims to achieve its goals through a range of global action promises, known as Nationally Determined Commitments or NDC’s, submitted by every Party, which will increase in ambition over time. The European Union submitted its NDC in 2015, committing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% by 2030, compared with 1990 levels.
The European Commission published draft proposals last year which suggests EU-wide reduction targets for the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme, or ETS, of 43%, and a 30% reduction for the emissions from the rest of the economy, when compared with 2005 levels. Ireland and other EU Member States are currently analysing the level of action required by each Member State in order for us to collectively achieve this goal.
As I’m sure you’re aware, the Emissions Trading Scheme is a mechanism the EU uses to reduce industrial emissions. It’s one of the main climate action tools in Europe, where industries are allowed to generate a certain amount of emissions each year, whilst being required to purchase the cost of any emissions beyond this level. The cap on emissions is reduced year-on-year, creating an incentive towards more efficient energy use.
Meanwhile, Ireland’s proposed non-ETS target is a 39% reduction of 2005 emissions by 2030. While the European Commission’s proposal includes a number of compensatory mechanisms to given all Member States more flexibility to achieve the EU-wide goal, it will nonetheless be a significant challenge for Ireland to achieve this target.
Ireland’s policy framework for meeting its targets
Of course, climate action in Ireland did not begin with the Paris Agreement. The extent of the challenge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is well understood by Government. A lot has already been advanced both in relation to the policy and legal framework and in relation to the implementation of measures. While swift action is needed, some policies, particularly relating to behavioural change, can take time to bed in.
The National Policy Position on Climate Action and Low Carbon Development, published in April 2014, set out the high-level policy direction we would need to take in order to move to a low-carbon, climate resilient economy by 2050.
This was followed by the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act, 2015, which gives statutory recognition for the national transition objective and provides statutory authority for the preparation of Government-wide adaptation and mitigation plans to drive this transition.
The National Policy Position makes explicit the levels of emissions reduction we need to have by 2050. This allows us to consider the pathways to get there – how our economy will need to adjust, what impact this will have at societal level and what this will mean in our everyday lives. Let us be clear that these are both long-term issues but that 2050 is now only 33 years away – a single generation.
So, where are Ireland’s emission levels at presently? Our current target, which takes us to 2020, is to reduce emissions outside the Emissions Trading Scheme by 20%, compared with 2005 levels.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published projections last March which assess our progress towards achieving our emissions reduction target. By the Agency’s calculations, Ireland’s emissions in 2020 could be in the range of 6% to 11% below 2005 levels, and are likely to be closer to the 6%.
There are a number of reasons for this shortfall – not least the serious financial problems which faced our country due to the Recession. The Recession resulted in less economic activity, less construction and less transport usage which in turn resulted in fewer emissions. However, it also mean that the resources available to the State for energy efficiency measures and Climate Change mitigation measures was severely limited.
We should also be mindful that the average EU target was a 10% reduction in emissions as opposed to the 20% target for Ireland.
That’s not to say we’re doing nothing.
We already have in place a range of policies and measures, from our renewable energy programmes, to energy efficiency programmes, our motor tax policies which encourage low CO2 emissions and the wide range of agricultural and forestry measures. The ongoing implementation of existing measures underlines the fact that Ireland is already taking significant steps to contain and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, notwithstanding the fact that much more needs to be done.
Agriculture is a particularly interesting area and I should declare here that I am from a farming background and that my degrees are in Agricultural Science. Climate Change and Food Security are both vital issues. They are not and should not be treated as polar opposites. Clearly the agriculture sector is hugely important to Ireland.
-Two thirds of our country is put to agricultural use.
-The agri-food sector is our biggest manufacturing industry, taking in over 165,000 jobs across the board.
-Forestry accounts for nearly 11% of the land area of the country and accounts for 12,000 jobs.
These are big players in the Irish economy, particularly in the rural economy.
But you’ll be aware that there are emissions associated with agriculture. It accounts for a third of our emissions, with methane emissions forming the lion’s share of these.
However, since 2002 our agricultural emissions have been falling. In 2015 they were 5.7% below 1990 levels. Our forestry programme also plays a strong role in the areas of mitigation and adaptation.
To date, these have largely been stand-alone policies, promoted by the relevant Department. Our Climate Act has set in place the structures to turn this way of dealing with climate change into coordinated policy across all the key areas.
First National Mitigation Plan
Ireland’s first National Mitigation Plan, required under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act, will be issued in draft by Minister Naughten for a six week public consultation next week. The draft Plan will set out:
- the current policy context,
- the greenhouse gas emissions trends for each sector,
- the opportunities and challenges;
- measures which are currently in place and
- measures which are under consideration.
In order to give stakeholders an early view of an indicative list of measures under consideration for the National Mitigation Plan, the Minister has already published a Briefing Document on the development of the Plan at the beginning of February.
The first Mitigation Plan will provide an important step in addressing the immediate and longer-term challenges. It addresses the four key sectors concerned and highlights several important questions we need to consider. We need to begin to answer the question of how we should position Ireland in taking this first step towards achieving the national transition objective. It is expected that the first National Mitigation Plan will be presented to Government in June.
While a critical first step towards achieving the national transition objective, the Mitigation Plan will be an evolving process and the development of policies and measures to reduce emissions must necessarily be an ongoing, iterative process across Government.
National Adaptation Framework
Along with our need to reduce our impact on the environment, we also face the challenge of adapting to the impacts of climate change. The 2015 Act also provides for the making and submission to Government of a National Adaptation Framework by the end of this year.
This will draw together the adaptation measures we will need to put in place across the relevant sectors into a coherent national strategy. The aim is to reduce the vulnerability of the State to the negative effects of climate change. Minister Naughten will draw up and submit to Government a National Adaptation Framework by the end of the year, and Departments will draft their own sector-specific Adaptation Plans.
National Dialogue on Climate Action
In the Programme for Government, we also identified the need to engage with wider society to get consensus on climate action.
Given the long term nature of climate action, much still needs to be settled in terms of long-term policy direction. Minister Naughten announced his intentions to initiate a National Dialogue on Climate Action earlier this month.
The Minister is finalising proposals on the National Dialogue to bring to Government and intends shortly to outline next steps to be taken, including launching a National Climate Change Action and Awareness Programme in schools and communities across the country.
Taking into account the Adaptation and Mitigation Plans which will be finalised this year, the Dialogue is timely. It will be an essential tool
-to engage people with the challenge of climate change,
-to motivate changes in behaviour,
-and to stimulate approaches at local, regional and national levels across the country.
We want to support the generation of ideas and to see them turned into appropriate cost-effective actions.
So, coming back to the theme of Energy Night, how can we get the country on track to meet our global, EU and national objectives?
The National Mitigation Plan is the first step. Every sector has to play its part. You will shortly see the options for measures that are in the pipeline, and this will give you an idea of the scale of the transformation we need across our society.
These efforts will be mirrored across the world, and beginning in 2018 we will see under the Paris Agreement what they will add up to. Building on this in five-year intervals, we will all play our part in enabling the Paris Agreement to restrict the global temperature rise to well below two degrees above pre-industrial levels.
As I said, the Energy Night debates have provided a very interesting platform for informed debate about national and local environmental issues. The steps we take in the coming months and years will determine whether the alumni of today, in Ministerial posts tomorrow, look back on what we promised and talk about our success or our failure.