Category: Climate

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 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 […]

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 […]

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 […]