SEAI The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland Act 2002 provided for the establishment of the Irish Energy Centre on a statutory basis, with a new title, the ‘‘Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’’, under the auspices of the Minister for Public Enterprise. The Irish Energy Centre was originally established by a Memorandum of Understanding in 1994 between the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications and the Chief […]
2022 Act The purpose of the Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) and Minerals Development (Amendment) Act is to provide for the making by the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications of a circular economy strategy; to provide for the establishment of the Circular Economy Fund; to make provision in relation to the Environment Fund; to provide for the establishment by the Environmental Protection Agency […]
CER (CRU) (now CRU) Responsible The purpose of the 2010 Act is to confer statutory responsibility for the safety of petroleum exploration and production on the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER (CRU)) now the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU). This implemented a key finding of the safety studies carried out in relation to the Corrib onshore pipeline. Petroleum is defined for this purpose […]
2015 Legislation Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 was designed to provide for government planning in relation to climate change in order to transition to a low carbon environmentally sustainable economy by 2020. The legislation provides for an unequivocal commitment to existing or future obligations of the State under the law of the European Union (EU) and under any relevant international agreement. This […]
Advisory Council There are provisions for the nomination and appointment of members of the Climate Change Advisory Council and aspects of its operation. It also confirms a member holding office immediately before the Act, will continue to hold office until their term expires. The 2021 Act increases the Climate Change Advisory Council membership to 13 ordinary members. There will be three ex-officio members on the […]
2021 Act The purpose of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Amendment Act 2021 Act is to provide for the approval of plans by the Government in relation to climate change for the purpose of pursuing the transition to a climate-resilient, biodiversity-rich and climate-neutral economy by no later than the end of the year 2050 to thereby promote climate justice; to make certain changes […]
Drainage of wetlands Drainage reclamation and infill of wetlands is subject to planning permission under planning law. Wetlands include lakes reservoirs and ponds rivers canals floodplains peatlands wet woodlands salt marshes and other waters. Planning permission is required where the area impacted by the works exceed .1 ha by the works may have a significant effect on the environment. Works in this context include installation […]
Early Conservation Steps In 1977 all bogs and lands not in act of production were declared wildlife sanctuary. The board presented three bogs for the state for preservation for ecological interest. In the 1970’s, an inventory of Irish peatlands was compiled for national heritage purposes. The 1980s sat the first significant movement toward conserving peat land. The European Parliament passed a resolution calling for a […]
Turf Development Board In 1934 the Turf Development Board Limited was established as a state-owned company. Engineering staff were taken over from the civil services and organising staff from the IAOS. The Turf Development Board was organised along the lines of the ESB with the mandate to develop and improve the turf industry in the Irish Free State by the introduction of improved methods of […]
Types of Peatlands There are three principal types of peatlands in Ireland. Fens have their origins in lakes and swamps left behind after the end of the last ice age. From about 7000 BC, plant remnants accumulated in the wetlands. The organic remains did not decompose and grew into fen peat. Layers of peat grew thicker and plant roots could no longer reach the mineral subsoils. […]
Gas Safety The 2006 Act provides provisions for natural gas safety. This includes regulation and safety promotion by the CER (CRU), having consulted with the National Standards Authority of Ireland regarding standards. It was to establish and implement a national gas safety framework and, for this purpose, may direct gas undertakings to advise the public and customers in relation to gas safety. The natural gas […]
Paris Agreement The Paris Climate Agreement was ratified by most countries worldwide. Its purpose is to achieve a limit to global warming substantially below 2°C above preindustrial levels and to endeavour to limit the increase to 1.5°. State parties are to prepare and notify intended nationally determined contributions every five years. They should reflect the state’s highest possible ambition, reflecting its common but differentiated responsibilities […]
The Petroleum Oils (Regulation or Control of Acquisition, Supply, Distribution or Marketing) (Continuance) Orders made provision requiring a certain percentage of purchase to be made from the state-owned Whitegate refinery. Irish National Petroleum Corporation The Irish National Petroleum Corporation Limited Act 2001 provided for the sale of shares in the company to facilitate its privatisation. The European Communities (Minimum Stocks Of Petroleum Oils) Regulations 1995 […]
BGE Functions Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1995 changed the powers and functions of the Bord Gáis Eireann (, the Electricity Supply Board and Bord na Móna. It changed the provisions in relation to the operation of gas pipelines and electricity cables offshore investigation of energy investigation of assets licensing and lease undertakings By order made under the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1995, the assets of […]
Commission Established The Electricity Regulation Act 1999 implemented Directive No. 96/92/EC. It provided for the Commission for Electricity Regulations (now the Commission for Regulation of Utilities) which would have powers to grant licences for the supply of electricity and for construction of generating stations. It provided for access to the transmission and distribution systems by holders of licences and eligible customers. Electricity Regulation Act 1999 […]
Single Market 1998 European Communities (Internal Market In Electricity) Regulations 1998 gave effect to Directive 96/92/EC on the common rules for the internal market in energy. This sought to open up the energy sector progressively to competition. It modified the statutory monopoly of the Electricity Supply Board. It modified the (1927 Act) legislation governing permits to conform with the directive’s requirements. Electricity Regulation Act 1999 […]
Agricultural Emissions The EPA projected that total emissions from agriculture would decrease by 5 per cent over the period 2008-2020. It has reduced by 7.3 per cent since 1990. There are three main sources of greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture: enteric fermentation, agricultural soils and manure management Measures for Reductions Reductions in GHG have been encouraged by the State agricultural research organisation Teagasc, which carries […]
Climate Objectives in Planning A fresh approach to implementing climate change policies was adopted in the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010. This represents a new and more ambitious attempt to mainstream climate change adaption principles into land use planning controls. It requires an extensive adaptation of zoning, building and transport policies to reduce GHGs. It amends the earlier Planning Acts to specifically require local […]
Sustaibable Development in Planning The Planning and Development Acts 2000-2006 contained a number of provisions to promote sustainable development and deal with the risks of flooding as required by Directive 2007/60 but they were not specific enough on measures for the concrete implementation of climate change policies. Several local area plans drawn up by local authorities under the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2006 imposed energy […]
Waste & Emissions Waste accounted for 1.6 per cent of GHG emissions in 2009. Government policy in relation to waste management is grounded in the recognised hierarchy of waste options and EU waste management law. Landfill The Government reported to the IPPC in 2006 that compliance with Directive 1999/31 on landfill would result in an average annual saving of GHG of 06 percent. Methane emissions […]
Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving Fossil fuels were 96 per cent of all energy used in Ireland 2007. EC Directive 2006/32 on energy efficiency in end-use and energy services was put into Irish law by the European Communities (Energy End-use Efficiency and Energy Services) Regulations 2009. Its purpose is to increase energy savings when energy is supplied to end-users—whether they are private consumers, companies or part […]
Building Regulations I The built environment is to contribute more than two-thirds of projected energy savings in the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP). The savings are to be made by energy conservation requirements for residential and non-residential buildings and through energy efficiency and renewable energy. The European Communities (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2005 empowered the Minister for the Environment to make building regulations […]
Taxation Tax reliefs for companies investing in solar, wind, hydro and biomass generation are available from 1999 to 2011 under s.486B of the Taxes (Consolidation) Act 1997. Accelerated capital allowances were made available for the installation of energy-efficient equipment by orders made under the Taxes (Consolidation) Act 1997 in 2008 and 2009. Grants Grants were made in 2009 for pilot small and micro-scale generation programmes […]
Renewable Energy Plan The 2001 European Renewable Energy from Electricity (RES-E) Directive required a target of 40 per cent renewable generation by 2020. Measures were taken for wind energy projects. Ireland’s Renewable Energy Action Plan 2010 under the EU Directive required 16 per cent of energy from renewable sources by 2020. The National Strategy required 40 per cent of electricity, 10 per cent of transport […]
Heat Heat consumes one-third of the energy supply and is dependent on fossil fuels. The alternatives to fossil fuels for direct heating include biomass, Combined Heat and Power (CHP), and geothermal energy. The target was 12 per cent renewable heat by 2020 in the Renewable Energy Action Plan 2010. Renewables Renewables generated 6 per cent of electricity in 2008. Bioheat and other renewable energy supports were […]
Transport Renewables Transport accounted for 1/5 of greenhouse gas emissions in 2005. Directive 2009/28 sets a 10 per cent target for renewable energy in transport for all EU by 2020. The Irish Bio-Energy Action Plan 2007 sets the national target for biofuel use in transport at 10 per cent market penetration by 2020. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector is significantly more challenging […]
International Obligations It is a global objective to reduce emissions and to achieve in the longer term balancing human emissions with sinks in the second half of the 21st century. Developed countries must continue to assist with climate finance for developing countries for mitigation and adaptation with €500 billion being provided within the following 10 years. States must come together every five years for a […]
Kyoto Protocol In the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the EU agreed to reduce total greenhouse gas emissions in the EU to 8 per cent below 1990 levels. Under a Decision made in 2002, Ireland agreed to a target of limiting its greenhouse gas emissions to 13 per cent above 1990 levels in 2008-2012 as part of the EU […]
Sustainability-related disclosures in the financial services sector Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 on sustainability-related disclosures in the financial services sector It lays down harmonised transparency rules for financial market participants* and financial advisers* on how they integrate environmental, social and good governance factors into their investment decisions and financial advice and on their overall and product-related sustainability ambition. It is designed to limit possible ‘greenwashing’ where […]
The Just Transition Fund Regulation (EU) 2021/1056 establishing the Just Transition Fund It sets up the Just Transition Fund (JTF), which aims to support the people, economies and environment of territories that face serious socio-economic challenges stemming from the shift towards a climate-neutral European Union (EU). The JTF aims to contribute to the single specific objective of enabling regions and people to address the social, […]
Climate action — binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions (2021–2030) Regulation (EU) 2018/842 on binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions by Member States from 2021 to 2030 contributing to climate action to meet commitments under the Paris Agreement The regulation, known as the effort sharing regulation (ESR), sets out: the European Union (EU) Member States’ obligations on their minimum contributions in specific sectors to meet […]
EU renewable energy financing mechanism Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1294 on the EU’s renewable energy financing mechanism This implementing regulation sets out the rules on the functioning of the new EU renewable energy financing mechanism in line with Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 on governance of the energy union. The mechanism supports new renewable energy projects across the EU and contributes to the renewable energy deployment in accordance […]
EU emissions trading system — auctioning regulation Regulation (EU) No 1031/2010 on the timing, administration and other aspects of auctioning of greenhouse gas emission allowances It sets out the rules to ensure that the procedure for allocating emission allowances within the European Union emissions trading system (EU ETS) is open, transparent, harmonised and non-discriminatory. Auctioning Auctioning has been the default method of allocating emission allowances […]
2030 climate and energy framework – greenhouse gas emissions, land use change and forestry Regulation (EU) 2018/841 on the inclusion of greenhouse gas emissions and removals from land use, land use change and forestry in the 2030 climate and energy framework The regulation: sets out what European Union (EU) Member States must do to ensure the land use, land use change and forestry sector helps […]
European Climate Law Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulations (EC) No 401/2009 and (EU) 2018/1999 (‘European Climate Law’) The regulation: establishes a framework for achieving climate neutrality within the European Union (EU) by 2050 (that is, a balance of EU-wide greenhouse-gas* emissions and their removal regulated in EU law); includes, in addition to the binding objective of climate […]
Clean and energy-efficient road transport vehicles Directive 2009/33/EC on promoting clean and energy-efficient road transport vehicles It aims at promoting and stimulating the development of a market for clean and energy-efficient vehicles. It requires public authorities and certain other public transport operators to take into account the impact of these vehicles during their operational lifetime in terms of: energy consumption; CO2 emissions; and other pollutant […]
Assessing environmentally sustainable investments Regulation (EU) 2020/852 on establishing a framework to facilitate sustainable investment It aims to allow investors to know whether an economic activity is environmentally sustainable by setting common EU-wide criteria. It amends Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 on sustainability-related disclosures in the financial sector. Action plan on sustainable growth This ‘taxonomy’ regulation is one of a number of actions designed to help achieve […]