Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Targets Joint Oireactas Committee Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources EPA Dara Lynott, Tom Ryan Stephen Treacy 25th October 2016

EPA role in relation to Greenhouse Gases The compilation and provision of annual reports of Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions by sector The development and provision of National Emissions Projections taking into account national climate change mitigation policies and measures Implementation of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) – Permitting, Monitoring, Reporting, Verification Union Registry Management, Credit Auction Monitoring Secretariat to the Climate Council and support for climate change research

Collaborative approach

Greenhouse Gases

Greenhouse Gas Sectoral Contributions 1990 2014

Total Greenhouse Emissions – non-ETS and ETS

Non-ETS Emissions Trajectory to 2020

Projected cumulative distance to Target for Non-ETS Sector 2013-2020

Challenges Post 2020 for non-ETS EU Climate Energy Framework sets targets to cut emissions in EU Territory by 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 New ESR proposal for the Non-ETS sectors to be agreed for years 2021-2030 – proposal for Ireland to reduce emissions by 30% below 2005 by 2030 New flexibilities potentially available in terms of GHG accounting and compliance in the new proposal: Use of credits from carbon sinks – LULUCF (capped at 5.6% of 2005 emissions) Use of EU ETS allowances (capped at 4% of 2005 emissions)

LULUCF? Land Use Land Use Change and Forestry Forests and agricultural lands currently cover more than three-quarters of the EU's territory Hold large stocks of carbon, preventing its escape into the atmosphere. Draining of peat land, felling of forest or ploughing up grassland generates emissions Actions such as afforestation or conversion of arable land into grassland can protect carbon stocks or result in carbon sequestration. Land use and forestry – which include our use of soils, trees, plants, biomass and timber – can thus contribute to a robust climate policy.

Closing Comments Under current projections, Ireland will likely not meet 2020 targets (even under cumulative mechanism & with additional measures) Economic recovery evident in emissions from transport and certain industrial sectors – increases the challenge Significant challenge to meet EU2030 and National 2050 targets Thank you