KEVIN HUMPHREYS TD
STANDING UP FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
FIRST EVER CLIMATE CHANGE LAW PASSED Labour in government has always worked to tackle climate change so that future generations of people in Ireland can live in a safe and cleaner environment. Working with Alan Kelly, Minister for the Environment, we have ensured that the first ever Climate Change legislation has passed the Dail and Seanad. The passing of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015 is a hugely significant and historic milestone. It means that Ireland will be one of only a handful of countries in Europe that have legislated and committed ourselves to meeting our EU 2020 carbon emission targets in law. This legislation will hardwire action and accountability on climate change into the political system. It will also help ensure that we play our part internationally in tackling climate change.
Kevin Humphreys TD and Michael McCarthy TD, Chair of the Oireachtas Climate Committee, launching the Report on Climate Action
The new Climate Change bill provides a statutory basis for Ireland’s transition to a low carbon, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable economy by the year 2050. Work is already underway on developing a low-carbon roadmap - the National Mitigation Plan - which will specify the particular measures that will help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Ireland. The passing of Ireland’s first ever climate legislation in the same week that 196 parties gathered in Paris to agree a new global deal on climate change is hugely significant in terms of underlining Ireland’s commitment to achieving a low carbon transition, and providing a transparent and whole-of-Government mechanism to deliver it.
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Kevin Humphreys TD Minister of State for Employment,Community & Social Support khumphreystd Phone: 01 618 3224 Email: kevin.humphreys@oir.ie
Key Measures in Historic Climate Change Law ■ A low carbon roadmap - the National Mitigation
Plan – will be drawn up every five years with specific measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, in line with our EU and international obligations. ■ Provides the legal underpinning to the National
Climate Policy Position – which includes the quantitative vision of low carbon transition by the year 2050. ■ Explicitly establishes the independence of the
expert advisory group, the Climate Change Advisory Council, modelled on the Fiscal Advisory Council. ■ Includes a monitoring mechanism to make the relevant Ministers report to Dáil Eireann on an annual basis. ■ Incorporates the experiences of local authorities in tackling greenhouse gas emissions when developing the
National Mitigation Plan. ■ Includes a reference to the protection of public health when developing and approving National Mitigation Plans.
The co-benefits of reducing greenhouse gas emissions often include a reduction in the emission of fossil fuelburning pollutants into the atmosphere. ■ Specifically recognises the principle of climate justice.
Kevin Humphreys TD Minister of State for Employment, Community & Social Support khumphreystd
Ruairi Quinn
Cllr Mary Freehill
Cllr Dermot Lacey
01 618 3434 ruairi.quinn@oir.ie
086 812 6378 marycfreehill@gmail.com
087 264 6960 dermot.lacey@labour.ie
Dáil Éireann, Leinster House Kildare Street, Dublin 2 Phone: 01 618 3224 Email: kevin.humphreys@oir.ie Web: www.kevinhumphreys.ie
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