2022

21st December 2022 - Climate Change Advisory Council’s Reaction to the National Climate Action Plan 2023

The Climate Change Advisory Council welcome the publication of the National Climate Action Plan 2023.

The publication of this annual plan marks an important step in meeting the legal commitments
under the Climate Act. 

The press release is available below.

Reaction to the National Climate Action Plan 2023

5th October 2022 - New OECD report recommends major redesign of Irish transport systems to meet climate targets and improve wellbeing

The OECD has today launched a major report outlining key recommendations required for the transport sector to meet it’s 50% sectoral emissions ceiling target by 2030. The sector represents the second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Ireland.

Redesigning Ireland’s Transport for Net Zero: Towards systems that work for people and the planet, commissioned by the Climate Change Advisory Council, explains why current patterns in passenger transport are incompatible with the sector’s ambitious targets and puts forward practical tools and solutions to help transform the sector. 

The report identifies that currently, the Irish transport system is car dependent by design, is high in greenhouse gas emissions and does not support improved wellbeing. Findings reveal that the reduction of car dependence is possible in both urban and rural locations, with local input to decisions crucial to success.

The report also finds that measures to reduce car dependence can greatly enhance wellbeing, improving access to services for both urban and rural isolated communities, improving health and road safety, while also benefiting the environment.

The press release and policy highlights document are available below. 

Press Release - Redesigning Ireland's Transport for Net Zero

Redesigning Ireland's Transport for Net Zero - Policy Highlights

The full report is available to view online on the OECD website at Redesigning Ireland’s Transport for Net Zero: Towards Systems that Work for People and the Planet | en | OECD.

If you wish to download the PDF version of the report you will need access credentials. Please contact info@climatecouncil.ie to obtain these credentials. 

5th September 2022 - Climate Change Advisory Council publishes Annual Review 2022

The Climate Change Advisory Council has called for swift and decisive action to support people and communities this winter by addressing Ireland’s dependence on harmful fossil fuels, which it says is a root cause of high energy costs, supply instability and high levels of carbon dioxide emissions.

The Council, who published their Annual Review for 2022 today, have said that the transition to more affordable, clean and secure energy must be urgently progressed and focus on measures that can be immediately deployed to assist those most in need in the coming months and in the years ahead.

Climate Change Advisory Council Annual Review 2022

Climate Change Advisory Council Annual Review 2022 press release

28th July 2022 -  Statement by the Chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council following the Government announcement of sectoral emission ceilings

The Chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council, Marie Donnelly, has noted the the Government’s announcement setting out the targets for reductions by sectors between 2018 and 2030.

The agreement of these sectoral targets is an important milestone in the process of meeting Ireland’s national climate objective.

However, the Chair also notes the sectoral targets announced are problematic for a number of reasons.

 Whilst these targets are a useful starting point the targets will need to be revised upwards and monitored closely in the light of experience. The Climate Action Plan 2023, due later this year, will need to set out the precise actions and steps that will need to be followed in order to align with the ambition of the Carbon Budgets which were adopted by the Oireachtas in April.

 Please find a link to the full statement below.

Chair's Statement on sectoral emission targets

21st July 2022 -  Statement by the Chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council following the publication of Ireland’s Provisional Greenhouse Gas Emissions for 1990 to 2021

The Chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council, Marie Donnelly, has responded to the publication of Irish Greenhouse Gas Emissions for 1990 to 2021 stating that the data today confirms that Ireland has not yet broken the link between economic growth and greenhouse gas emissions.

In a detailed response by the Council, the Chair has said that given the challenges that families and communities will face this winter, the Government should immediately launch an information campaign to identify ways in which everyone can reduce demand which saves money and addresses both the energy and climate challenge.

With fossil fuel use in in transport, buildings and electricity representing just under 50% of total emissions, the Chair said that we need to urgently reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuels thus benefiting society by shielding people from volatile energy prices, increasing our security of energy, and supporting the achievement of our climate objective.

Please find a link to the full statement below.

Chair's Statement on Ireland’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions 1990-2021

20th July 2022 - Climate Change Advisory Council submission to the public consultation on the review of the National Adaptation Framework

The Climate Change Advisory Council has submitted 34 recommendations to the public consultation process of the review of the National Adaptation Framework.

Welcoming the review of the National Adaptation Framework (NAF) the independent advisory body stated that Ireland is not prepared for today’s climate and the climate of the future is set to get much worse with more frequent and extreme heatwaves, flooding and coastal surges.

The increased frequency of severe weather conditions such as the recent heatwave has demonstrated the need for urgent action on adaptation to ensure society has the infrastructure and services in place to respond to the impact that climate change is having on society.

The Council has concluded that while the current Framework, and the sectoral and local adaptation plans and strategies produced as a result of it, provide a solid foundation for adaptation, overall, the process of adapting to climate change in Ireland to date has too often been side-lined and overshadowed by a focus on mitigation.

The 34 recommendations made are outlined in the submission below.

Council Submission to NAF Review

Submission to NAF Review Press Release

16th June 2022 - Statement from the Chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council on the launch of its 2022 – 2026 Statement of Strategy

The Climate Change Advisory Council has launched its Statement of Strategy which will guide its work for the period 2022 – 2026.

The Council is responsible for assessing and advising on how Ireland can transition to a climate neutral, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable economy. The strategy sets out our comprehensive approach to providing independent advice and recommendations to policy makers which will support the achievement of Ireland’s climate targets.

Our vision is to be recognised as a trusted authoritative voice, positively impacting policy in achieving climate change targets for the benefit of all of Irish society. This Strategy sets out how we intend to realise that vision and how we will strengthen our voice, our profile, our recognition and our understanding to maximise the impact of our advice.

The strategy is ambitious, and it has been prepared at a critical juncture in Ireland’s climate change journey, reflecting the increased urgency of the challenge we face as a country and a society.

CCAC Statement of Strategy 2022-2026

1st June 2022 - Statement by the Chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council following the publication of Ireland’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Projections 2021 to 2040

Ireland’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Projections 2021 to 2040, published by the EPA today highlights the huge challenge Ireland faces in meeting its national and EU targets.

The projections reinforce the need to accelerate the implementation of planned climate actions and identify and implement significant further measures to put Ireland on track to remain within its carbon budgets.

All sectors must urgently increase their efforts to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Across society a sea change is required to urgently reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuels. The decarbonisation of the electricity sector using our own indigenous resources (e.g. wind and solar power) will contribute to the clean energy transition in heating and transport and needs to be accelerated. This has the added long-term benefit of reducing our currently high household and business energy costs.

Realising this potential will require a very significant level of investment. While Government investment must increase, businesses and households will also need to play their part.

Measures should be targeted at those in challenging circumstances, fuel poverty and with low incomes. This includes income supports and targeted investment in low income households that will support society in reducing its dependency on fossil fuels.

13th April 2022 - Climate Change Advisory Council letter regarding Energy Security and Climate Action in the wake of the Ukraine crisis

The Climate Change Advisory Council has written to the Government on the geopolitical and economic fallout of the Ukraine crisis and has emphasised the need for Ireland to urgently reduce its dependence on imported fossil fuels to shield people from volatile energy prices, increase security of supply and achieve climate objectives.

The letter and associated press release are available at the links below.

Letter regarding Energy Security and Climate Action

Energy Security and Climate Action Letter Press Release

7th April 2022 - The Chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council welcomes the Oireachtas approval of Ireland’s first carbon budget programme

The Chair of the Council welcomes the detailed consideration of the proposed carbon budgets including the public consultation and the extensive discussions and engagements that the Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action undertook.

The approval of the motion on carbon budgets by both Houses of the Oireachtas as of 6 April is an important milestone in finalising the adoption of the first economy-wide carbon budget programme which will provide for a legislative upper limit on the total amount of greenhouse gases that may be emitted in the State during each five-year period.

This is a key step in the process of meeting the ambition set out in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act and it is important that the approval of sectoral emissions ceilings which will be set out by the Government, now progresses on an urgent basis.

The Council stresses the need for immediate and sustained action to support emissions reduction actions across all sectors of the economy. Under the Act, the Councils’ Annual Review process will report on progress made in complying with carbon budgets and each sectoral emissions ceiling for the relevant period and provide appropriate recommendations. 

4th April 2022 - IPCC WGIII Sixth Assessment Report - Statement of the Chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council  

The Chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) welcomes the IPCC’s WGIII contribution to its Sixth Assessment Report, which was published today (04 April 2022), and its focus on the action required to achieve the Paris Agreement temperature goals of limiting global warming well below 2C and making efforts to limit warming to 1.5C. The report is clear that this requires enhanced and accelerated implementation of current policies and enhanced ambition at a global level that is delivered at greater speed and scale.

The Council considers Ireland’s ambition, as set out in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 along with consideration of the carbon budgets by the Oireachtas, is now at an appropriate level but implementation needs to accelerate. There is an urgent need to decarbonise the economy and society through climate change mitigation while taking account of impacts on the economy, society and environment and ensuring  a just transition.

Fuel switching, greater energy efficiency and greater use of renewable energy has reduced the carbon dioxide (CO2) intensity of energy use. However, these and other emissions reduction gains have been more than offset by wider increases in emissions with high income economies accounting for a larger share of global GHG emissions. Ireland’s experience reflects this trend: while efficiency gains are evident, emissions are not falling fast enough. Irish per capita emissions remain significantly above the EU average and well above the global average per capita emissions.

The report highlights that there are mitigation options which are feasible to deploy at scale in the near term. The unit costs of several low-emission technologies have fallen continuously since 2010, notably wind, electric vehicles and solar PV, as well as new ‘smart’ technologies. Particularly relevant for Ireland, the report notes that there are options in all sectors to at least halve emissions by 2030:

• “Reducing GHG emissions across the full energy sector requires major transitions, including a substantial reduction in overall fossil fuel use, the deployment low-emission energy sources, switching to alternative energy carriers, and energy efficiency and conservation.”
• Mitigation options in the Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector, “when sustainably implemented, can deliver large-scale GHG emission reductions and enhanced removals but cannot fully compensate for delayed action in other sectors.”
• “The deployment of carbon dioxide removal will be essential to counterbalance hard-to-abate residual emissions is unavoidable if net zero CO2 or GHG emissions are to be achieved.”

Globally, the report authors provided the stark conclusions that “it is now or never if we want to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees” with the report providing evidence that total net anthropogenic GHG emissions have continued to rise during the period 2010–2019. Average annual GHG emissions during this period were higher than in any previous decade.

Today’s report makes clear that without accelerating and strengthening policies and implementation, GHG emissions are projected to increase up to and beyond 2025, leading to a median global warming of around 3.2 (2.2 to 3.5) °C by 2100.

The report is available at https://www.ipcc.ch/report/sixth-assessment-report-working-group-3/

28th February 2022 - IPCC WGII Sixth Assessment Report - Statement of the Chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council 

The Climate Change Advisory Council welcomes the IPCC’s WGII Sixth Assessment Report, published today (28 February 2022), and its focus on coordinated, inclusive, innovative and accelerated adaptation, as well as its strong message that projected adverse impacts and related losses and damages will continue to escalate with every increment of warming. This confirms that adaptation and mitigation, addressing both the impacts and the causes of climate change, must be better integrated, and delivered at a greater speed and scale.

The report provides the stark analysis that human-induced climate change, including more frequent and intense extreme events, has caused widespread adverse impacts and related losses and damages to nature and people. It is particularly concerning that the rise in weather and climate extremes has led to some irreversible impacts as natural and human systems are pushed beyond their ability to adapt.

Today’s report makes clear that political commitment and follow-through across all levels of government are necessary to accelerate the implementation of adaptation actions. However, as the Council emphasised in its 2021 Annual Review, Irish climate policy has not placed a sufficient emphasis on adaptation with inadequate consideration of adaptation issues and limited integration and recognition of the potential for win-win solutions.

Today’s report also confirms that monitoring and evaluation of adaptation is critical to track progress and enable effective adaptation but that progress on adaptation is uneven. Here, the Government has not set national resilience indicators to measure our climate resilience and the Council’s scorecard of adaptation progress presented in the 2021 Annual Review found that it could not give the highest score for adaptation progress to any sector. In the 2021 Annual Review the Council found little progress in the ‘Health’ and ‘Communications Networks’ sectors. Demand for electricity is going to increase significantly in the coming years as we decarbonise, and so far, there is only limited progress in building the resilience of the ‘Electricity and Gas Networks’ sector to climate impacts. Recent storms show how vulnerable our existing infrastructure can be to extreme weather events and underlines the need to prepare them for a changing climate.

Another area of particular importance to Ireland is the IPCC report’s consideration of the vulnerability of coastal settlements and infrastructure. The report highlights the cascading impacts associated with sea-level rise, which will continue into the future and which we must prepare for. Coastal adaptation will be of vital importance to Ireland due to the large (and growing) percentage of the Irish population living on the coast, and the range of Irish infrastructure vulnerable to sea level rise, coastal flooding and erosion, not to mention the variety of important ecosystems our coasts host.

A total of 1.9 million people in Ireland live within 5km of the coast, representing 40% of the population, while 40,000 people live less than 100m from the coast. Despite this there is no sectoral adaptation plan for our coasts.

The report makes clear that so far adaptation has been fragmented and dominated by incremental, sector-specific responses and instead we must prepare for the long-term risks of a changing climate, and it must be achieved while protecting and enhancing biodiversity and ecosystems.

Today’s report, and the IPCC WGI report published last year, emphasise the need to decarbonise our economy and society through climate change mitigation while taking account of these impacts on our economy, society and environment through appropriate adaptation. It also shows that even temporarily exceeding 1.5°C will result in additional severe impacts compared to remaining below 1.5°C, some of which will be irreversible even if global warming is reduced.

The report is available at https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/

11th January 2022 - Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment and Climate Action - Carbon Budgets Committee 

Carbon Budgets Committee opening statementCarbon Budgets Committee opening statement