Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021 published.

The Government has now approved the final text of legislation to set Ireland on the path to net-Zero emissions no later than 2050, and to a 51% reduction in emissions by the end of this decade.

The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021 will also provide the framework for Ireland to meet its international and EU climate commitments and to become a leader rather than a laggard in addressing climate change.

The Bill includes the following key elements:

• Places on a statutory basis a ‘national climate objective’, which commits to pursue and achieve no later than 2050, the transition to a climate resilient, biodiversity-rich, environmentally-sustainable and climate-neutral economy

• Embeds the process of carbon budgeting into law, Government are required to adopt a series of economy-wide five-year carbon budgets, including sectoral targets for each relevant sector, on a rolling 15-year basis, starting in 2021

• Actions for each sector will be detailed in the Climate Action Plan, updated annually

• A National Long Term Climate Action Strategy will be prepared every five years

• Government Ministers will be responsible for achieving the legally-binding targets for their own sectoral area with each Minister accounting for their performance towards sectoral targets and actions before an Oireachtas Committee each year

• Strengthens the role of the Climate Change Advisory Council, tasking it with proposing carbon budgets to the Minister

• Provides that the first two five-year carbon budgets proposed by the Climate Change Advisory Council should equate to a total reduction of 51% emissions over the period to 2030, in line with the Programme for Government commitment

• Expands the Climate Change Advisory Council from eleven to fourteen members, and provides that future appointments to the Council provide for a greater range of relevant expertise and gender balanced

• Introduces a requirement for each local authority to prepare a Climate Action Plan, which will include both mitigation and adaptation measures and be updated every five years. Local authority Development Plans will also align with their Climate Action Plan

• Public Bodies will be obliged to perform their functions in a manner consistent with national climate plans and strategies, and furthering the achievement of the national climate objective.

In addition to this, while the Climate Action Plan 2021 is being developed, the Government recommitted to a set of Interim Climate Actions.

The Interim Climate Actions 2021 will ensure continued delivery of climate action across all Government Departments and their Agencies. The Interim Climate Actions 2021 can also be used as a basis for review – people can contribute to the consultation by highlighting where greater commitment is required and increased action necessary for the 2021 Climate Action Plan.

Together we can turn ideas into action for a cleaner, brighter, healthier future for all. Join the conversation at gov.ie/climateconversation and help shape our 2021 Climate Action Plan.

The consultation will remain open until 17.30 on 18th May 2021.