Download - Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps4th September 2007 Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps • A reduction of 3% per year on average in our greenhouse gas emissions •

Irish Climate Change PolicyThe Next Steps

Oisín CoghlanFriends of the Earth

Environment Ireland Conference, 4 September 2007

4th September 2007 Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps

• Ireland is the fifth most climate polluting country per person in the OECD

• If everyone on Earth polluted like the Irish we would need three planets to survive

The Big Picture


564.70 7.72 360.70@ €20x5yrs3.61State purchases 204.00@ €20x5yrs2.04ETS purchases €m 2.07Domestic Sinks

To be covered by:7.30Distance to target

351.65126.0870.332010 GrossNCCS

125.4069.952005 reported gross315.16113.0063.03Kyoto target

100.0055.78Kyoto baseline

2008-2012 Total

Mt

% of Kyoto baseline

Million Tonnes CO2e

The Kyoto Step


A critical juncture

• Kyoto kicks in on 1 January 2008• The 30th Dáil coincides with the five year

Kyoto period• April’s NCCS: tinkering not transformation• June’s Programme for Government is A New

Departure


A new departure?

Bertie Ahern, Drumcondra 2002

John Gormley, Sandymount 2007


• A reduction of 3% per year on average in our greenhouse gas emissions

• An annual carbon budget presented by the Minister for Finance

• A high-level climate change commission• An all party approach to climate change

targets• Social partnership status for environmental NGOs

Programme for Government commitments


3% a year reduction on avg

64.012008-2012 average 320.052008-2012 Total

60.172012 Commitment62.03201163.95201065.93200967.97200870.072007 (Nap Projection)

Million tonnes CO2e


A carbon budget is a set amount of carbon that can be emitted in a given amount of time, either by the whole economy, or a pre-selected sub-population or set of activities.

Ecofys, Developing a carbon budget for the UK, 2006


3% a year reduction on avg

64.012008-2012 average 320.052008-2012 Total

60.172012 Commitment62.03201163.95201065.93200967.97200870.072007 (Nap Projection)

Million tonnes


Mobilizing public opinionThe commission, all-party approach, social partnership


The era of procrastination, of half-measures, of soothing and baffling expedients, of delays is coming to a close. In its place we are entering a period of consequences. Winston Churchill, 1936.


The challenge ahead

5%7 - 92050 Ecofys

3% - 4%42.4 - 44.62020 Ecofys

3%60.172012 Government commitment

69.952005 actual

Annual reduction required

Million tonnes CO2e

“Carbon budget”


Climate Protection Act

• 2050 and 2020 targets into law• Average annual cut of least 3% into law• Legislative framework for carbon budgeting• Statutory role for commission on targets and

measures• Responsibility, scrutiny, accountability,

sanctions for ministers and departments

Irish Climate Change PolicyThe Next Steps