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THE MINISTER FOR the Environment, Climate and Communications has welcomed the publication of the proposed carbon budgets from the Climate Change Advisory Council.
The first proposed carbon budget was sent to Eamon Ryan yesterday after long deliberations over its recommendations on how Ireland should chart its path to reducing emissions.
For the first time, the Irish government is due to implement three carbon budgets, each covering five years, that set out limits on emissions from specific sectors.
The budget is part of a roadmap for Ireland to follow to meet the government’s target of cutting emissions in more than half by 2030, a stepping stone on the way to its second key target of net-zero emissions by 2050.
Commenting on the proposed budgets, Ryan said: “When we passed the Climate Act in July we embedded the process of carbon budgeting into law. The Act also strengthened the role of the Climate Change Advisory Council, to empower this independent body to do this important work, based on the most up-to-date climate science.”
“These first carbon budgets are a significant milestone in our efforts to tackle climate change,” he said.
The budget, which will last until 2025, allows for a total of 295 million tonnes (Mt) of CO2 emissions between now and then.
Between 2026 and 2030, the limit is 200 Mt, and the provisional carbon budget for 2031 to 2035 allocates 151 Mt.
“The first two 5-year carbon budgets equate to a total reduction of 51% emissions over the period to 2030. This is part of the journey towards ‘net zero’, which commits us to the transition to a ‘climate resilient, biodiversity rich, environmentally sustainable and climate neutral economy’ no later than 2050,” Ryan added.
The proposed carbon budgets will go to Government before being handed over to the Oireachtas, who will be tasked with reviewing and approving the budgets within four months.
Once the budgets are approved, the Government will allocate specific emission limits on a sector-by-sector basis.
“There will be different targets for each sector, based on their respective starting points and the relative difficulty, cost, speed and benefits of reducing emissions,” Ryan said.
He added that every sector of the economy “will need to play its part”.
“This will be challenging and will require fundamental changes in many parts of Irish life, but it is also an opportunity to create a cleaner, greener economy and society that cuts emissions, creates jobs and protects our people and the planet.”
Alongside the carbon budget, the government’s new Climate Action Plan is due to be published shortly. The plan will detail the next steps in measures to try to tackle the climate crisis.
Leaders from Ireland and around the world are also due to meet in Glasgow on Sunday for COP26, a UN summit where countries will seek to negotiate new climate agreements.
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Sound advice for those who have not got the option to walk or cycle due to distance
@Jim O Brien Tech: Seriously???…Do you think it applies to those people? No, it doesn’t. It applies to people who normally take public transport are in a position to be able to walk or cycle taking the pressure off public transport.
@Jim O Brien Tech: eejit. You know well they don’t expect people to walk or cycle from Portlaoise to Dublin or Kinsale to Cork city. However the knock on effect of more people cycling and walking will benefit motorists due to less congestion.
@Jim O Brien Tech:
Well yeah, since it means fewer people on public transport, and as a result, safe for those people who don’t have the option of walking or cycling.
Jaysus, some snowflakes melt awful fast when you say “cycling” or “walking”.
@Jim O Brien Tech: Mr. Techbuzz at it again with the usual ill-informed responses.
Obviously they are talking about those who are able & within a reasonable distance to do so.
@Jim O Brien Tech: man up Jim.
You’d be surprised how far and fast one can ride on a bike.
Wtf have you got against bikes and the numerous different types of *people* who choose to ride bikes as a form of transport and for enjoyment?
Always spouting negativity and making sweeping generalisations.
You’re some cyclophobe.
Full of vinegar.
No option to walk, cycle or use public transport for many parts of Ireland.
@Sirius: the advice obviously applies to those who have that option. Why do we even need to have to point that out.
@Sirius: I suppose if there’s no public transport in your area, they’re not advising you to use it.
@Connoroconner:
Suggesting people try to cycle or walk is green fascism don’t you know?
There needs to be a cycle path built alongside every road in the country. Cost is immaterial, and right wing whingers need not respond.
@Clurichaun: I think the fact you’ve characterised, unprovoked, as right-wing whingers anyone who has a problem with cycle lanes, tells us all we need to know about cycling lobby zealots. Don’t get your spandex in a knot.
@Clurichaun: Cost is never immaterial
Ivory tower decision making. With massive amounts of people working from home temporarily these decisions look good but wait for the schools to go back in September and the majority of these decisions will be bad ones.
Anti car lobby in dublin is unbelievable at the minute
@john s: what decisions? The are offering advice
@john s: It’s not really a new decision, the advice has always been to cycle or walk if you can. If you can do it, it’s better for you.
@john s: actually a really good time to get kids to cycle to school so. It would be a return to what we had before. Kids do not need to be driven to school it is a convenience. A very expensive convenience that has a cost outside of fuel and wear and tear on the car. The pollution, congestion, damage to roads, health cost to children etc… when in a car in close traffic the cars such in the exhaust fumes from the car in front. Inside a car is more toxic than being outside it.
@john s: The anti-car lobby is led by the Greens who are more privileged than they would like us to think. Most of them can afford to live within walking or cycling distance of where they work or their children go to school. They’re not forced to buy a house 60km away from where they work and commute 3 hours a day. The Greens are totally out of touch with reality and how ordinary people live. They are pushing policies that penalise people who are barely making ends meet in the name of sustainability and looking good on the global stage. This is all fine if you can cycle from your ivory tower to your job or the local farmers market to buy washed organic vegetables and then to an exclusive little off-licence to buy organic wine from Chile (all those airmiles). It’s not if you commuted 3 hours a day to your job before lockdown and you don’t live within walking or cycling distance of the shops. Perhaps the Greens have a secret agenda to herd all rural dwellers into H-block style multistorey co-living schemes. If they succeed there will be no farmers left to grow organic vegetables but we’ll all be living sustainably on soylent green by then so it won’t matter.
@Em Gee: that is a whole lot of exaggeration and anger. I know plenty of people who chose to live far from work because they could get larger houses they weren’t forced. They then started complaining when congestion increased as the estates they live all contained people who CHOSE to commute long distances. More estates built between them and work and traffic increased. Who would have thought that would happen? Then they go on complaining that they have to drive and people suggesting anything else are being unrealistic. I work with people who live closer to work than I do and they drive while it takes me 30minutes to cycle. You talk of reality, this is reality where people insist on driving when they have other options. Of course some don’t have the option but they weren’t forced
I will tell Aunt Betty to get her 10 speed racer out on pension day
All well and good if the average Irish driver didn’t come to withing 1.5 mm. Without segregated cycle lanes it is just not safe and that won’t change, so come on Greens.
@rodgerw@eircom.net:
tbf the Greens have *constantly* been pushing for segregated cycle lanes. The problem is that the motor lobbys object to every plan that takes an inch of roadway. It will be easier to push for improved cycle infrastructure if more people cycle.
PEARSE DOHERTY AND THE FFG CARTEL TRYING TO RUN THE COUNTRY INTO THE GROUND WITH THEIR CARBON TAXES
@Jim:
Caps lock on!!!!
@Jim: what are you on about?
@Jim: JIM, TURN OFF THE BLODDY CAPS LOCK PLEASE!!!!
@Jim: Pearse Doherty represents SF who are opposed to carbon taxes so what are you on about?? There’s no need to SHOUT every message you post on here.
Capacity on the trains are reduced but they still haven’t put back on many of the trains – mine aren’t back on so I have to drive and the m50 is getting very busy.
@dearg doom: traffic on the M50 is light compared to normal eg when kids are in school.
Electric scooters for travel a must for the future, the earths will be fried by the time Ross makes his mind up even though he’s gone
@Gerard Heery: there is a place for them but major restructuring of what a motor propelled vehicle is defined as is required. Where and who uses them has to be defined. Simply is using one drunk going to be an offence. Will electric bike no longer need to be assist etc… really isn’t as simple as people think.
@Gerard Heery: yep & mandatory helmet
@Craic_a_tower: It isn’t as simple as people think, but surely its simple enough for a fast moving high paid profession government minister to figure out….I take that back its really complicated.
@Alan Wylie: it isn’t simple and has huge ramifications that require investigation before deciding. It takes time. Before you blame Ireland and our minister, TDs etc… this is not unique to Ireland. Most countries are having trouble dealing with new legislation on the subject. What is absolutely clear is they are illegal to use in public in Ireland. One overtook me at over 35kph you can’t have an electric bike legally do that. How are you going to identify a legal vehicle going down the road? The gardai certainly cannot identify them at the moment.
@Emer Caffrey: Why would there be a mandatory helmet? This would mean that scooter rental schemes could not work. Is there any research that indicates a substantial reduction in injuries if you wear one? Bike helmets only result in a 25% reduction in head injuries (not all injuries). Reseach shows 4-5 times as many drivers and pedestrians die from head injuries as cyclists. If we want to save the most lives, drivers and pedestrians should wear helmets first. Having said that, I wear a helmet as I’ll take the 25% reduction in head injury.
There’s a load of people who’ll choose to drive instead of public transport. Roads will be really bad.
If you can, cycle, you’ll be surprised how fast and efficient it is and how you’ll feel really good after it.
If more people do that then those who really need their cars/vans for work will be able to move more freely.
I see many people cycle on the footpath all the time in Ireland even when there’s a clear cycle lane on the road. Why do so many insist on rule breaking? If you’re a child using stabilizers then that’s allowed but if you’re an adult you should know better!
@Edel Quinn: I see many people parking in the cycle lane all the time in Ireland even when there’s a clear car parking space nearby. Why do so many insist on rule breaking? Etc.
…or…
I see many people moaning about cyclists on any article that so much as mentions a bike even when the article has nothing to do with the behaviour of any road users. Why do so many etc.
Yawn.
@Edel Quinn: every single car you see parked partially or fully on the path has driven on the path and parked illegally. Way more of them than cyclists on the path. Cyclists even cycle on the path to let motor vehicles can go at speed. That is normally because drivers don’t wait and pass too close. I would love if all rules were applied to all. Think we need jaywalking laws too
@Pseud O’Nym: I know, many people don’t like being called out on their behavior. The truth hurts.
@Pseud O’Nym: Agreed. As a cyclist, maybe I should start parking in car lanes to see how much drivers like it.
This cycle lane ia bad designed. Was there in sunday, it goes both ways but suddenly ends at o’Connell bridge and you need to switch iver to the old cycle lane accross 1 or 2 lanes of traffic, try this when the lights are green…
@Soeren Kuehling: there are so many bad designs. That is why they removed the law making them mandatory as they would be liable for design and upkeep. There are several cycle lanes that flood so when most needed they cannot be used
Why are councils not trimming trees along footpath and cycle paths?
@Pat Redmond: because it’s illegal to do so until September.
Bike theft has skyrocketed, cctv & take your bike indoors where possible. Locks are no deterrent to the lowlife
@Emer Caffrey: true, if they can’t break the lock they’ll break your bike
@Over the top: someone tried to steal my bike. The lock held but the frame was damaged beyond repair
Cheers NTA put me out of business why don’t you… Just after I paid you last week to renew my license.. Taxilivesmatter#
@Shane Freeney: A Transport Authority encouraging people to walk doesn’t bode well for the future.
@Cormac Laffan: I find that walking does manage to transport me. Also, it reduces road congestion and makes you live longer. I can see why the NTA are interested.
Walking on the path FACING the traffic creates a good one way flow. The paths cannot fit all pedestrians. It’s one simple solution to busy paths.
Nothing been done for the poor old Taxi Drivers. Just the NTA taken money off them
Don’t forget the oul electric scooter
Walking to work, thats 2 hours + each way, cycle on very busy narrow roads (can’t use the paths as they are very narrow and not cycle paths) to get into work, drive and spend a fortune on city centre parking (can’t afford it). I will be taking the Luas when I eventually stop working from home. For lots of people there is no option.
@Jacqueline McCabe: And so we reap what successive governments (failed) to sow – the lack of investment in transport infrastructure that doesn’t involve private motor vehicles has been pathetic for decades now.
Add in the total lack planning for homes, workplaces and urban spaces that doesn’t involve driving, and you understand why there are so many comments like yours on here (rightly) mentioning being unable to cycle or use public transport to get to work because it’s too far to walk/cycle and or the roads are too narrow/busy.
have your say