Climate Change Progress and Challenges Linking Local, National & International Issues Dave Walsh Assistant Secretary Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government Outline • International context – UNFCCC • EU context • Ireland – emissions trends – 2020 compliance and 2030 targets • Climate Bill and related policies • Local role – adaptation and mitigation 2 Degree Challenge International Context - UNFCCC • • • 1992 – UNFCCC Followed by Kyoto Protocol (KP) in 1997 Conference of the Parties (COP) meets annually • • • • • • Copenhagen (2009) – low-point Durban COP (2011) Doha COP (2012) Warsaw COP (2013) Lima COP (2014) – “Call for Climate Action”- INDC’s Paris 2015 – COP21: “The Paris Protocol”?? The Cycle…. EU Context • • • • • EU15 collectively signs up to KP1 - 1997 EU29 sign up to KP2 (2012) Internal burden-sharing of effort required to ensure targets are split equitably and efficiently Effort Sharing Decision (2009) Revised Emissions Trading Directive – ongoing  • • Market Stability Reserve (restoring balance to ETS market) Renewables Directive and Energy Efficiency Other legislation, such as F-Gases; CO2 from cars and vans; etc EU Context • Emissions declined 19% between 1990 – 2013  GDP grew by 45% over same period • 2020 Targets based on agreed Effort Sharing Decision (ESD) • EU Climate & Energy Framework 2030 • EU leaders agreed economy-wide target (Oct 2014)  All sectors, all sources of emissions  At least 40% - compared to 1990  Agriculture, Forestry and other Land Uses (carbon sinks) • Ambitious and Fair  Cost efficient pathway to 80% reductions by 2050 (Roadmap) Luxembourg Estonia Czech Republic Germany Netherlands Finland Belgium Poland Ireland Cyprus Greece Austria Slovenia United Kingdom EU15 EU28 Denmark Malta Bulgaria Slovakia Italy Spain France Sweden Portugal Lithuania Hungary Croatia Romania Latvia Carbon dioxide (t CO2) per person Ireland….CO2 per person (2012) 20 15 10 5 0 Luxembourg Estonia Ireland Czech Republic Germany Netherlands Finland Cyprus Belgium Poland Greece Austria Denmark Slovenia United Kingdom EU15 EU28 Bulgaria Slovakia Italy Malta France Spain Lithuania Portugal Hungary Croatia Liechtenstein Sweden Romania Latvia Greenhouse gas emissions (t CO2eq) per person Ireland….GHG per person (2012) 20 Carbon dioxide (CO2) Methane (CH4) Nitrous Oxide (N2O) Fluorinated gases 15 10 5 0 Ireland…. National Emissions Profile 2012 Residential 10.6% ETS 28.8% Comm/Inst 3.6% Transport 18.6% Non ETS 71% Agriculture 32.0% Industry 4.4% Energy 0.3% Waste 1.7% National Policy… • • • National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012 Review in 2011 Publication of National Policy Position (April 2014)  The low-carbon road-mapping process will be guided by a long-term vision of low-carbon transition based on – o o • an aggregate reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of at least 80% (compared to 1990 levels) by 2050 across the electricity generation, built environment and transport sectors; and in parallel, an approach to carbon neutrality in the agriculture and land-use sector, including forestry, which does not compromise capacity for sustainable food production. Outline Heads of Climate Bill (2013) – extensive consultation     General Scheme of Bill – 2014 Climate Action and Low-Carbon Dev Bill published January 2015 Completed 2nd Stage – awaiting Committee Stage Enactment by Summer? Climate Bill… Main Provisions of the Bill… • Setting in place cross-Govt structures / systems • Preparation of National Mitigation Plan – 5 yearly • • • • Agriculture Energy Transport Built environment • Preparation of National Adaptation Framework & sectoral plans (12) • Expert Advisory Council Sectoral Adaptation Plans… Sectoral Adaptation Plan Water Emergency Planning Marine Agriculture Forestry Biodiversity Heritage Transport Energy Communications Flood Defence Health Current National Framework… • Cabinet Committee – Economic Infrastructure & Climate Change • Senior Officials Groups • • • • Technical Working Groups Research UCC/ESRI/UCD National Steering Groups – Mitigation/Adaptation Widespread consultations/inputs on draft Plans (including on SEA/AA) Transitional Challenge… • • • • • • • Fiscal Rules Starting Point – lost investment opportunity Compliance Costs Existing Policies/Measures New Measures? Alignment – Misalignment (OECD)? Co-Benefits? National Adaptation Framework – 2012  Local Adaptation Plans       Supporting communities – delivery of services and infrastructure Incorporate adaptation (and mitigation) into Development Plans Collect Evidence – raise awareness Role of LAs Stakeholders – Participatory Process Guidelines? Guidelines… • At draft stage – to be published shortly…. • Adaptation Team – Preparing the Ground • Baseline • Identifying Future Risk • Identifying, assessing and prioritising options • Developing pathways and strategy • Implementation, Monitoring and evaluation … Thank you ….. Questions?