Climate Action Plan to be finalised amid lofty rhetoric about saving the world

Away from the lofty rhetoric and pledges by world leaders to save the world in Glasgow, a group of senior ministers will meet in Dublin today to finalise Ireland's Climate Action Plan.

The goal is to reduce Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions by just over 50 per cent by 2030 – and to put us on a trajectory to net zero 20 years later.

The difficulty of doing this should not be underestimated with suggestions that it will involve cutting transport emissions by half and those in agriculture by between 22 per cent and 30 per cent.

And that difficulty will perhaps be reflected in lower emissions cuts than could have been expected next year and a smaller cut to methane – one of the worst greenhouse gases – than has been agreed to internationally.

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From what is known about the plan the target for 2022 will fall short of the 4.8 per cent annual reduction in carbon emissions outlined in last week’s five-year-carbon budget, albeit the hope will be to catch up in later years.

Meanwhile, as Pat Leahy, Harry McGee and Denis Staunton report in our lead today a Cop26 summit pledge to cut methane emissions by 30 per cent – signed by Taoiseach Micheál Martin — will not form part of Ireland's plan.

Instead the plan is understood to include methane reductions of about 10 per cent but with larger reductions in other greenhouse gases to meet Ireland’s target of a 50 per cent reduction by 2030.

This will include reductions in nitrous oxide emissions, which like methane emanate from the agriculture sector.

In fairness to Mr Martin, he did flag yesterday that Ireland’s methane cuts would not match the overall global total.

“We will contribute globally to a global reduction. It’s a global pledge, it’s not country-specific. We will develop our climate action plan which will give our specifics in respect of each sector,” he said.

This prompted accusations of “spin” from People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith.

The Government is in something of a bind on this one as methane is produced by cattle and the fate of Ireland’s 6.5 million strong national herd is a hot political topic.

The Coalition is insisting there will be no cull.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has suggested the numbers will reduce naturally as farmers diversify.

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, meanwhile, say herd numbers will "stabilise" and suggested levels of production can be maintained with emissions cuts coming through greener farming practices.

Farmers — and Opposition politicians eager to be seen to be on their side – fear what the Climate Action Plan will mean for their livelihoods.

Miriam Lord reports here on the latest exchange on the issue between Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Kerry Independent Michael Healy Rae in a piece headlined: Belch-and-braces approach as talk of cull is just bull.

But while much of the focus has been on the farming sector, the Climate Action Plan will mean huge changes in how everyone lives if the targets are to be met.

We’re still not buying electric vehicles in nearly enough numbers if an earlier target of getting 900,000 on the road by 2030 is to be met.

And the planned retrofitting programme to make homes more energy efficient will be extremely costly, with concerns that there aren’t yet enough workers to do the job.

Expect more attention to be given to these kinds of challenges once the plan is finally published after a Cabinet meeting tomorrow.

Two per cent caps to rent increases on the way

Climate won’t be the only topic on tomorrow’s Cabinet agenda. Rent increases will be limited to at most 2 per cent or linked to inflation if it is lower than this under new housing reforms to be brought by Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien.

As Jennifer Bray reports the legislation will link rent increases to the harmonised index of consumer prices or cap any increases at 2 per cent if inflation rises above this level. Don't expect the Opposition to him any credit for it with Sinn Féin calling for a three-year freeze – something the Government say is not legally possible.

Best reads

Patrick Freyne reports from Glasgow on those from the developing world seeking to have their voices heard on climate – as well as the Leonardo diCaprio circus

Reported Covid-19 numbers surged to 3,726 on Tuesday – the highest levels since January 19th. Paul Cullen reports on the growing concern at the latest deterioration in the pandemic.

On a more positive note Eoin Burke-Kennedy outlines how the Government is on course for another record tax haul this year as a result of several large, unscheduled corporation tax payments from multinationals.

Playbook

The Dáil kicks off at 9.12am with a debate on Topical Issues before considering a private members' bill on credit unions brought by Independent TD Marian Harkin at 10am.

Leaders’ Questions is at noon followed by Taoiseach’s questions.

There will be statements on the latest European Council meeting scheduled to begin just before 2pm.

The Finance Bill and legislation on human trafficking and animal welfare will be debated in the evening followed by the weekly votes at 9.30pm.

It is a busy day in committee-land. The members of the European Affairs Committee will consider cybersecurity issues from 9.30am.

The Committee on Health will conduct pre-legislative scrutiny on tobacco and e-cigarette legislation.

Perhaps the most lively meeting of the day will be the Transport Committee from 1.30pm where members will have a chance to quiz Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the National Transport Authority on the roads, rail, buses and cycle paths in the National Development Plan.

Representatives from the world of boxing will be at the Committee on Sport from 3pm.

There will be engagement with stakeholders on the topic of women’s shelters and domestic abuse at the Committee on Justice from 5.30pm.