Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps4th September 2007 Irish Climate Change Policy The Next...

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Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps Oisín Coghlan Friends of the Earth Environment Ireland Conference, 4 September 2007

Transcript of Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps4th September 2007 Irish Climate Change Policy The Next...

Page 1: Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps4th September 2007 Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps • A reduction of 3% per year on average in our greenhouse gas emissions •

Irish Climate Change PolicyThe Next Steps

Oisín CoghlanFriends of the Earth

Environment Ireland Conference, 4 September 2007

Page 2: Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps4th September 2007 Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps • A reduction of 3% per year on average in our greenhouse gas emissions •

4th September 2007 Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps

• Ireland is the fifth most climate polluting country per person in the OECD

• If everyone on Earth polluted like the Irish we would need three planets to survive

The Big Picture

Page 3: Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps4th September 2007 Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps • A reduction of 3% per year on average in our greenhouse gas emissions •

4th September 2007 Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps

564.70 7.72 360.70@ €20x5yrs3.61State purchases 204.00@ €20x5yrs2.04ETS purchases €m 2.07Domestic Sinks

To be covered by:7.30Distance to target

351.65126.0870.332010 GrossNCCS

125.4069.952005 reported gross315.16113.0063.03Kyoto target

100.0055.78Kyoto baseline

2008-2012 Total

Mt

% of Kyoto baseline

Million Tonnes CO2e

The Kyoto Step

Page 4: Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps4th September 2007 Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps • A reduction of 3% per year on average in our greenhouse gas emissions •

4th September 2007 Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps

A critical juncture

• Kyoto kicks in on 1 January 2008• The 30th Dáil coincides with the five year

Kyoto period• April’s NCCS: tinkering not transformation• June’s Programme for Government is A New

Departure

Page 5: Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps4th September 2007 Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps • A reduction of 3% per year on average in our greenhouse gas emissions •

4th September 2007 Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps

A new departure?

Bertie Ahern, Drumcondra 2002

John Gormley, Sandymount 2007

Page 6: Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps4th September 2007 Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps • A reduction of 3% per year on average in our greenhouse gas emissions •

4th September 2007 Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps

• A reduction of 3% per year on average in our greenhouse gas emissions

• An annual carbon budget presented by the Minister for Finance

• A high-level climate change commission• An all party approach to climate change

targets• Social partnership status for environmental NGOs

Programme for Government commitments

Page 7: Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps4th September 2007 Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps • A reduction of 3% per year on average in our greenhouse gas emissions •

4th September 2007 Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps

3% a year reduction on avg

64.012008-2012 average 320.052008-2012 Total

60.172012 Commitment62.03201163.95201065.93200967.97200870.072007 (Nap Projection)

Million tonnes CO2e

Page 8: Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps4th September 2007 Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps • A reduction of 3% per year on average in our greenhouse gas emissions •

4th September 2007 Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps

A carbon budget is a set amount of carbon that can be emitted in a given amount of time, either by the whole economy, or a pre-selected sub-population or set of activities.

Ecofys, Developing a carbon budget for the UK, 2006

Page 9: Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps4th September 2007 Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps • A reduction of 3% per year on average in our greenhouse gas emissions •

4th September 2007 Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps

3% a year reduction on avg

64.012008-2012 average 320.052008-2012 Total

60.172012 Commitment62.03201163.95201065.93200967.97200870.072007 (Nap Projection)

Million tonnes

Page 10: Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps4th September 2007 Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps • A reduction of 3% per year on average in our greenhouse gas emissions •

4th September 2007 Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps

Mobilizing public opinionThe commission, all-party approach, social partnership

Page 11: Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps4th September 2007 Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps • A reduction of 3% per year on average in our greenhouse gas emissions •

4th September 2007 Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps

The era of procrastination, of half-measures, of soothing and baffling expedients, of delays is coming to a close. In its place we are entering a period of consequences. Winston Churchill, 1936.

Page 12: Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps4th September 2007 Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps • A reduction of 3% per year on average in our greenhouse gas emissions •

4th September 2007 Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps

The challenge ahead

5%7 - 92050 Ecofys

3% - 4%42.4 - 44.62020 Ecofys

3%60.172012 Government commitment

69.952005 actual

Annual reduction required

Million tonnes CO2e

“Carbon budget”

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4th September 2007 Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps

Climate Protection Act

• 2050 and 2020 targets into law• Average annual cut of least 3% into law• Legislative framework for carbon budgeting• Statutory role for commission on targets and

measures• Responsibility, scrutiny, accountability,

sanctions for ministers and departments

Page 14: Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps4th September 2007 Irish Climate Change Policy The Next Steps • A reduction of 3% per year on average in our greenhouse gas emissions •

Irish Climate Change PolicyThe Next Steps