The Republic of Ireland’s Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan TD, has issued a work programme setting out the steps and milestones for the development of national climate policy and legislation.
The work programme for policy development, including legislation, covers the next 18 months (see below).
The principal milestones include:
– a public consultation which will take place in the first half of 2012;
– in the second half of the year, the publication of an initial report by the NESC Secretariat on potential climate policies and measures (to be completed by end June 2012) and the development of heads of a Climate Bill for consideration by the Committee following Government approval (end-2012); and
– the consideration of the end-2012 final report by the NESC Secretariat and the heads of Bill by the Committee in the first half of 2013.
National Climate Policy
Programme for the development of national climate policy and legislation
2012
January – Independent analysis by NESC Secretariat, for the purpose of informing further development of national climate policy, to commence.
Early February – In parallel with the independent analysis by the NESC Secretariat, Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to launch a structured, open, and inclusive consultation on national policy and legislation following on from the review issued by the Minister on 3rd November 2011.
The consultation process will run up to the end of April.
End June – NESC Secretariat to submit its interim report, which will focus on potential options for policies and measures to close the distance to Ireland’s greenhouse gas emission reduction target under Decision 406/2009/EC in the compliance period 2013-2020.
Minister to make an overview analysis of the responses to the consultation available on line.
Quarter 3 Minister to release the interim report from NESC Secretariat; views to be sought from Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht.
Quarter 4 Minister to –
a) announce the Government response to the interim report from NESC Secretariat, and
b) issue heads of a climate Bill for consideration by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht and stakeholders, following Government approval.
End 2012 – NESC Secretariat to submit its final report.
2013
February – Minister to release final report from NESC Secretariat.
March – June Oireachtas Joint Committee to consider the NESC reports and Heads of climate bill, consulting with stakeholders as determined by the Committee.
End June – Oireachtas Joint Committee to report on national climate policy development and appropriate legislation.
Quarter 3/4 Having regard to –
- the National Climate Policy Review,
• the reports from the NESC Secretariat and the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht, and
• ongoing evolution of climate policy within EU level and at a wider-international level under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change,
Government to adopt a national policy position on transition to a low-carbon future, including appropriate institutional arrangements, and finalise the introduction of climate legislation.