Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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29. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the energy activities he envisages will be included in the new definition of emissions in the proposed climate action Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31967/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The purpose of the Bill is to amend the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 and provide for a significantly strengthened statutory framework for more effective governance of the State’s climate objectives, as well as underpinning targeted strategies, plans and actions to realise our national, EU and international climate goals and obligations.

Section 2 of the Bill, as published on 7 October,  introduces into Section 1 of the Act a revised definition of ‘emissions’ which is:

“ ‘emissions’ means, in relation to greenhouse gases, emissions of those gases into the earth’s atmosphere attributable to industrial, agricultural, energy or other anthropogenic activities, in the State”.

The revised definition aims to improve the overall clarity and meaning of the existing definition - it does not change the scope of the definition.

It is important to note that energy sector emissions have been addressed through  a range of sectoral actions to lower emissions under the National Mitigation Plan 2017, the Climate Action Plan 2019, and the National Energy and Climate Plan. The sector will remain a key focus of future emissions reduction efforts under actions to be included in the update to the Climate Action Plan in 2021 and, as with all sectors of the economy, will be subject to sectoral targets under carbon budgets which will be prepared and updated every 5 years.

Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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30. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the differences proposed for agriculture over other sectors in his categorisation of its special role in the new climate action Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31968/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Programme for Government commits to an average 7% per annum reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions from 2021 to 2030 (that equates to a 51% reduction over the decade); and to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

The Climate Action (Amendment) Bill provides for a strengthened statutory governance framework to deliver this commitment. This includes defining a process for carbon budgeting, from which sectoral decarbonisation targets will be determined, ensuring  every sector contributes to achieving the 2050 objective of climate neutrality.

Once carbon budgets are adopted, the Government, through a consultative approach, will determine the effort required of each sector and the associated sectoral target ranges in a given five-year period, as well as outlining the necessary actions for each sector in the updated Climate Action Plan. It is not possible to indicate at this time the specific policies and actions for each sector, but they will be developed through consultation, including with all relevant Ministers, having regard to the key principles set out under Section 3 of the draft Bill.  

The IPCC Special Report, published in 2018, increased understanding of the global carbon budgets, and distinguished the importance of reaching and sustaining net-zero global anthropogenic CO₂emissions, while concurrently achieving deep reductions in non-CO₂gases such as methane and nitrous oxide. The report provides modelled emission pathways consistent with the 1.5°C goal. While the global carbon budget is focused on CO₂ as the main driver of global warming, the report also enhanced understanding of the required emission reduction pathways for other major greenhouse gases. In pathways limiting global warming to 1.5°C with limited or no overshoot, the report shows CO₂ emissions reduced to net zero by 2050. However, this report also points out that non-CO₂ emissions, including biogenic methane, while being reduced, will not reach net zero globally.

While it is not necessary for biogenic methane emissions to reach net zero, nor would this be an attainable goal, the agricultural sector has an important role to play in reducing emissions as far as is technologically possible, and to contribute to carbon sequestration and fossil fuel displacement. Land use offers significant potential to sequester additional carbon and constitutes an opportunity both for farmers and for rural areas. This potential will be fully explored to curb the emissions, as well as to create jobs and diversify farmers’ income. The Government will evaluate the potential for contributions towards our climate ambition from land-use improvements, and set in train the development of a land-use plan based on its findings.

Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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31. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if individual farmers can apply to the Climate Action Fund under changes proposed in the climate action Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31969/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Climate Action Fund was established on a statutory basis with effect from 1 August 2020.The main objective of the Fund is to provide support for initiatives that contribute to the achievement of Ireland’s climate and energy targets in a cost effective manner and which, in the absence of support from the Fund, would not otherwise be developed. The Climate Action Fund will be resourced from proceeds from the levy paid to the National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) in respect of relevant disposals of petroleum products, after the funding requirements of NORA have been met. In the region of €500 million is expected to accrue to the Climate Action Fund to 2027. This will ensure that substantial funding is available to progress a series of funding calls.  

The recently published Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill, 2020 proposes that projects and initiatives that seek to increase climate resilience, and the removal of greenhouse gas, particularly through nature-based solutions that enhance biodiversity, can also be supported by the Climate Action Fund. Funding calls addressing these types of projects and initiatives may be of particular interest to the agricultural sector. The scope and eligibility criteria of any such calls, which are yet to be determined, would inform who may apply for funding.

The Deputy may also wish to note that preparations are underway to launch a second call for applications for support from the Climate Action Fund in December of this year.