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 includes in […]
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 commencement of this section 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 […]
Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Amendment Act 2021 General The purpose of the 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 […]
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 and respective […]
Agricultural Emissions The EPA projected that total emissions from agriculture would decrease by 5 per cent over the period 2008-2020. It has reduced 7.3 per cent since 1990. There are three main sources of greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture: enteric fermentation, agricultural soils and manure management Reductions in GHG have been encouraged by the State agricultural research organisation Teagasc, which carries out research and […]
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 planning and regional authorities […]
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 conservation requirements on developers […]
Waste management 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. 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 from […]
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 […]
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 were made in 2009 for pilot small and micro scale […]
Renewable Energy Ireland’s Renewable Energy Action Plan 2010 under 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 and 12 per cent of heating fuels from renewable sources by 2020. Productions are expected by the use of the following wind projects microgeneration, offshore wind, biomass, landfill gas, […]
Under the Energy (Biofuel Obligation and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2010 amending the National Oil Reserves Act 2007 and implementing the Renewables Directive 2009/28, oil companies and certain large oil consumers must ensure that a specified amount of the petroleum product that they dispose of, by sale or otherwise, is biofuel. This is fixed by ministerial order, or in default 4.166 per cent. Biofuel obligation […]
Transport 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 than […]
Emissions Trading Emissions trading is designed to incentivise certain large industries to reduce their emissions by giving allowances for the amount of pollutants they email annually. Industries which emit less than the target can sell their allowances and do not have to purchase from others. Conversely those that exceed their targets must purchase allowances from others. Directive 2003/87/EC established the emissions trading scheme. Part of […]
Introduction 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 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 target, and […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Moving toward competitive sustainable and secure energy for Europe The European Union (EU) is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by between 80-95 % below 1990 levels by 2050. It has a clear agenda up to 2020. Now it is setting a new direction for its decarbonisation ambitions for the following 3 decades in order to provide certainty for investors, governments and citizens. Communication […]
CO2 emission performance standards for new heavy-duty vehicles Regulation (EU) 2019/1242 — setting CO2 emission performance standards for new heavy-duty vehicles It sets out the EU’s first CO2 emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles. It will operate alongside Regulation (EU) 2019/631 to set out emission reduction targets for the EU road transport sector. It forms part of the EU’s strategy to achieve its greenhouse gas emissions […]
Carbon dioxide capture and storage The geological storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) can prevent and minimise the harmful effects of climate change. This directive establishes rules to ensure this practice is done safely. Directive 2009/31/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the geological storage of carbon dioxide and amending Council Directive 85/337/EEC, European Parliament and Council Directives 2000/60/EC, […]
Programme for the environment and climate action (LIFE) (2014-20) This regulation establishes the fifth version of the LIFE programme, the EU’s main funding framework for environmental and climate change policy. It focuses on concrete environmental and climate policy priorities as well as areas for action. Regulation (EU) No 1293/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the establishment of […]
Background In 2018 the Irish Government approved the high-level design of the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) including its ambitious community provisions. The design was based on two public consultations: The ambition set out in Ireland’s Energy White Paper to support communities, The emergence of energy communities as a key function of the recast Renewable Energy Directive within the EU Clean Energy Package. The Government decision […]
Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer Vienna Convention for the protection of the ozone layer Decision 88/540/EEC on the conclusion of the Vienna Convention for the protection of the ozone layer and the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer The Vienna Convention on the Protection of the Ozone Layer lays down the principles to protect the ozone layer*, following […]