Climate Change

1

• Climate Change
• LA/CCMA Conference
• Joe Crockett
• Kilkenny County Council.
• 4 April 2008

2
Global problem/global solution

• IPCC Fourth Assessment Report (2007) confirms
  global scientific consensus that climate change
  is happening and is directly related to human
  generated greenhouse gas emissions.
• Economic consensus (Stern Report) that the costs
  of inaction will greatly exceed the costs of
  action.
• Political momentum now for action.

3
Climate Change Agenda

• Key elements
• International agenda
• UNFCCC (1992)
• Kyoto Protocol (1997)
• (Commitment period 2008-2012)
• IPCC 4th scientific assessment report (2007).
• EU agenda
• European Climate Change Programme.
• National agenda
• 1st National Climate Change Strategy published
  2000.
• 2nd Strategy (2007-2012) published April 2007.

4
National emissions

• Relative to 1990 levels
• 2001 peaked at approx 27.
• 2002 23.8.
• 2003 23.5.
• 2004 23.6.
• 2005 26.5.
• 2006 25.5.

5

Kyoto Protocol Target
6
NCCS Projections to 2020
7
National Policy Framework

• National Climate Change Strategy (2000)
• Review of NCCS Irelands Pathway to Kyoto
  Compliance, July 2006.
• Public consultation Aug-Sept 2006.
• Energy White Paper, Bioenergy Action Plan,
  National Development Plan.
• EU commitments on 2020 targets.
• National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012.

8
Objectives of Strategy

• Objectives
• to show how Ireland will meet its Kyoto Protocol
  commitment in the 2008-2012 period, and
• to prepare for more stringent emission reduction
  requirements post-2012.
• Framework to achieve Kyoto target
• variety of domestic measures to reduce emissions
  throughout the economy,
• supplemented, as necessary, by the purchase of
  carbon allowances.

9
Meeting 2008-12 commitment

• (Mt CO2 equivalent)
• Emissions without any measures 79.829
• Less Existing measures 8.660
• Projected emissions after existing
  measures 71.169
• Less Kyoto target 63.032
• Distance to target 8.137
• Additional measures 4.953
• Flexible mechanisms (i.e. carbon credits)
  3.607
• Total additional effect 8.560

10
Sources of Emissions in 2005
11
Measures in key sectors

• Energy
• 15 of electricity consumed to come from
  renewable sources by 2010 33 by 2020.
• Extended support for biomass through Bioenergy
  Action Plan.
• Wind energy critical
• ESB Plan published
• Transport
• More sustainable transport patterns, especially
  through Transport 21.
• Increased use of biofuels 5.75 by 2010, 10 by
  2020.

12
Measures in key sectors (2)

• Residential
• 40 increase in thermal performance from 2008
  aiming for 60 by 2010.
• Building Energy Ratings.
• National Spatial Strategy
• Industry, commercial services sector
• Higher energy performance standards for
  non-residential buildings and energy management
  programmes.
• Regulation of industrial gases.

13
Measures in key sectors (3)

• Agriculture and land-use
• Reduction in emissions from national herd through
  CAP reform.
• Improved manure management.
• Support for afforestation.
• Support for energy crops biomass harvesting
  scheme.

14
Measures in key sectors (4)

• Public Sector
• Energy efficiency programme with target of 33
  reduction in energy use.
• Measuring, reporting and reducing emissions.
• Biomass heating in schools.
• Use of biofuels in public fleets.
• Offsetting emissions from official air travel.

15
Cross-sectoral measures

• Use of Flexible Mechanisms under Kyoto Protocol
  (to purchase carbon credits).
• 15 million multi-annual awareness programme.
• Research cleaner processes/technologies.
• Examination of taxation incentives.
• Spatial and planning policies.
• National strategy on adaptation Ireland wont
  escape the impacts of climate change.

16
Post-2012 agenda

• EU policy
• a unilateral commitment to achieve at least a 20
  reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2020,
  compared to 1990,
• a 30 reduction by 2020, as its contribution to a
  global comprehensive agreement for the period
  beyond 2012, subject to participation by other
  developed countries and the economically more
  advanced developing countries.

17
Meetings of the Parties

• 13th Conference of the Parties to the UN
  Framework Convention on Climate change and 3rd
  Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol in
  Bali, December 2007.
• Milestone in international agenda formal
  negotiations on new treaty to succeed Kyoto
  Protocol started this week
• EU expectations agreement on the new treaty at
  the meetings of the Parties in Copenhagen in
  December 2009.

18
EU climate/energy package 2020

• EU climate action and renewable energy package
  (i.e. 2020 agenda/targets) published by
  Commission on 23 January 2008.
• Aim by 2020 -
• reduce EU greenhouse gases by at least 20, and
• increase renewable energies in total energy
  consumption to 20.
• Emissions reduction target to be increased to 30
  (by 2020) in context of a new global agreement to
  succeed Kyoto Protocol.

19
Proposed 2020 targets for Ireland

• EU Emissions Trading Scheme (to be administered
  by Commission from 2013)
• emissions from all EU installations in the scheme
  (including 100 Irish installations) capped at
  21 below 2005 levels by 2020.
• Other national emissions
• transport, agriculture, waste, etc. to be
  reduced by 20 compared to 2005 and
• Renewable energy a combined 16 target for
  electricity, heat and transport.

20
Conclusion 1 of 3

• Climate change is one of the greatest threats
  facing mankind, and the climate change agenda is
  a key cross-cutting policy issue for Government
  central and local
• Global greenhouse gas emissions must be halved by
  2050 emissions in developed countries must be
  reduced by up to 80.
• Targets for 2020 and beyond will be much more
  onerous than Kyoto Protocol targets.
• Ireland will not escape the impacts key is
  implementation of responses

21
Conclusion 2 of 4

• Next steps for LAs
• Full Compliance with chapter 9 of NCCS
• Reduce emissions
• Individual reporting on Emissions Mgt
• Individual LA Initiatives significant progress
  many authorities expansion

22
Conclusion 3 of 4

• Draft National Adaptation Strategy participation
  
• Local and regional analysis and adaptation
  preparatory work critical
• Inclusion of elected reps Councils SPCs
  Oireachtas members
• Suggest Wide Dissemination of Information/
  development of joint approaches/ use of
  participative structures
• CCMA/LAs continuation/expansion of climate
  change process continuing major focus for
  future

23
Conclusion 4

• Multi-agency approach central to success close
  relationship with Govt Depts and Agencies
  essential
• New partnership/collaborative structures?
• Continued and more intensified programme of
  Emissions Mgt and of Adaptation