Rural ideas Forum

Rural ideas Forum:Transitioning to a Climate Neutral Society27th October 2021

Dr Rob Mooney

Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications

Citizen Engagement, Community Leadership and Public Sector Lead

2 An Roinn Comhshaoil, Aeráide agus Cumarsáide | Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications

Climate Change … … The Evidence

• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report sets out the most up-to-date physical science basis for our understanding of climate change.

• The current changes in the planet’s climate are transforming the world. • Each of the last four decades has been warmer than any since 1850.• Global average temperatures increased by more than 1°C since pre-industrial times. • Evidence of human influence in warming our climate system is beyond dispute.• Without urgent action, global warming is likely to be more than 2°C above pre-

industrial levels by 2060, and 5°C above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century.


Climate Change … … The Risks

• These changes will cause extensive direct and indirect harm: • Rising sea-levels

• Extreme weather, storms and rainfall affectingour land, coastline and seas

• Pressure on our water resources and food production systems,

• Impacts on river and coastal ecosystems including river and coastal flooding

• Poorer water quality

• Changes in the timing of lifecycle events for plants and animals on land and in the oceans

• New pests and diseases

• Greater political and security instability

• Displacement of populations and climate refugees

• The Paris Agreement and Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) recognise that the

impacts of climate change will be felt by all, but that these impacts will be uneven by country,

region and other factors.


Climate Change … … The Challenge for Ireland

• EPA’s recently published Climate Status Report for Ireland 2020 sets out the most up-to-date

climate observations for Ireland.

• We have a limited window for real action to reduce emissions to ensure that current and future

generations can live sustainably in a low-carbon and climate-resilient world.

• Simply, we must step up our efforts to: • limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C - reduce the risks and impacts of climate change

• increase the ability to adapt to the impacts of climate change and foster climate resilience and low

greenhouse gas emissions development, in a manner that does not threaten food production

• make finance flows consistent with climate-resilient development.


Transitioning to a Carbon Neutral Society…… in Europe

• In December 2019, the European Green Deal was published which aims to

transform the EU into a modern, resource-efficient, and competitive economy

with net zero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050.

• In June, the European Climate Law turned this political commitment into a

legal obligation.

• This is to be supported, in part, through the European Climate Pact, which is an

EU-wide initiative inviting people, communities and organisations to

participate in climate action by sharing knowledge and implementing

solutions.


Transitioning to a Carbon Neutral Society…… in Ireland

• The 2020 Program for Government (PfG) committed Ireland to reducing carbon emissions by 51% by 2030, and becoming a net zero and climate neutral economy by no later than 2050.

• This ambition is reflected in the Climate Action & Low Carbon Development Act 2021 which has set this ambition in legislation.

• The Climate Action Plan 2021 will set out a pathway to achieve this.


Transitioning to a Carbon Neutral Society…… A Collaborative Approach

• For Ireland to make this transition will require that we make changes in our society and

economy including the built environment, energy, transport, waste, and agriculture.

• This will require a collaborative effort by government, business, communities, and

individuals to deliver new and ambitious policies, technological innovations, and

systems and infrastructures.

• This will also require changes in individual behaviours including how we work, heat our

homes, travel, produce our food, consume goods and services, and manage our

waste.

• Government and the public sector must lead

• Delivering on this ambition is the responsibility of everyone in society.


Empowerment through co-creating solutions …… Climate Conversations

• In 2021, DECC held a series of Climate Conversations capturing the views of over • 3,800 members of the public• 200 individuals from 16 Public Participation Networks• 100 young people from 12 Comhairle na nÓg groups, and • 70 in-depth conversations.

• Articulated the voice of a public who are responsive to this crisis and feel a sense of urgency around climate.

• It demonstrated an enthusiasm to work with the government, agencies, and organisations across society.

• It identified areas where people are already making changes and where individuals and communities feel they lack information and knowledge, resources, or the capacity to pursue these changes

• Asked for ‘joined up thinking’ and ‘ambitious policies’ being reflected ‘where they live’ and ‘enhancing the capacity of Local Authorities and the community sector’.


Delivering a new National Dialogue on Climate Action (NDCA)

• The National Dialogue on Climate Action (NDCA) will be the primary vehicle through which this will be realiseddelivering a systematic means of actively engaging stakeholders and the public across Ireland to engage withclimate action at the local and national level.

• The vision of the NDCA is to empower everyone in society to help deliver on our goal of reducing Ireland’scarbon emissions by 51% by 2030 and actively participate in the transition towards a climate neutral economyby 2050.

• To do this the NDCA has 3 main objectives:

1. Improving climate literacy by creating awareness about, and promoting understanding of, climate changethrough communications and education.

2. Funding, supporting, and enabling active engagement in climate action at a local and national level, conductingpublic consultations, and empowering the public to adopt more sustainable behaviours.

3. Capturing insights from engagement activities and conducting social and behavioural research to measurebehavioural change among the public and provide an evidence base to inform the Climate Action Plan andsectoral climate policies.


The NDCA & … … National activities

• At the national level the NDCA will facilitate, support, and coordinate:• National Climate Stakeholder Forum

• Youth Climate Assembly

• Climate Conversations: Public Consultation on Climate Action

• Climate Conference, Climate Lecture Series & Support Workshops


The NDCA & … … Local activities

• The NDCA will facilitate, empowering, and provide funding to local communities

to address the challenges that they face in transitioning to a carbon neutrality in

a way that is meaningful to them.• Financial supports

• Local Climate Conversations

• Network and capacity building between organisations

• National Climate Conversation on Local Action


Evidence base & identifying those most impacted by the transition

• The delivery of the NDCA will be measured through robust research

across key demographics

• The NDCA work programme will facilitate the analysis of insights gained

from research and the engagement activity allowing us to:• identify populations who are most at risk

• target policy, supports and engagement activities

• inform the sectoral plans, and

• Support public participation in the Climate Action Plan.


Funding Innovation through the Community Climate Action Programme (CCAP)

The two strands include • Build Low Carbon communities:

• Supports to local authorities to support communities to build low carbon communities

• Build capacity in communities:• Education, capacity building and learning by doing• Creative Climate Action Fund

The CCAP will operate under the following themes. • Home/Energy• Travel• Food and Waste• Shopping and Recycling • Local Climate and Environmental Action


Delivering a carbon neutral society … … challenges & opportunities for Ireland

Challenge Opportunity

Policy & Strategy • Carbon Budgets• Climate Action Plan 2021• Our Rural Future• Whole of Circular Economy Strategy• National Remote Working Strategy

Infrastructure, services & economy • National Development Plan 2018 - 2027 (NDP) - €21.8 billion earmarked for the transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient society investing in public transport, Just Transition, climate & energy, and the circular economy

Funding / finances • The Community Climate Action Programme (CCAP)• Grants for Electric Vehicles • Retrofitting grants • Sustainable Energy Communities (SEC’s)

Built environment and retrofitting • Retrofit 500,000 dwellings and install 600,000 heat pumps by 2030.• Provide opportunities for training, development, upskilling/reskilling in the sector to meet demand.• Professional support available to homeowners looking to retrofit via nationwide network of One-Stop Shops.• District heating in Ireland.• Promote low carbon construction techniques in Ireland.• Ongoing review of the Building Regulations

Public Participation • NDCA & Climate Conversations Action: Deliver a Citizen Engagement event regarding Climate Action for Rural Communities.

• Active engagement across government- as exemplified by this event!


Delivering a carbon neutral society … … challenges & opportunities for Rural Ireland

Challenge Opportunity

Agri-food • Improvements in farming practices and rewards for sequestering carbon, restoring biodiversity, producing clean energy, improving water and air quality, while remaining profitable and competitive.

• New business opportunities in forestry, the bioeconomy and organic farming

Land Use, Land Use Change, & Forestry

• Conduct research and establish a pathway for our LULUCF sector to become a long-term sustainable net sink• Balancing the environmental, social, and economic considerations of land and land use. • Deliver significant ecosystem services and biodiversity benefits

Transport • Increase electric vehicles• Decarbonisation of public transport• Transport infrastructure and services including a rural mobility plan• Changing town and local link bus services to low-emission/zero-emission buses• A National Travel Card scheme for young people• Increasing sustainable mobility - walking, cycling and public transport• Increasing the biofuel blends in sectors that might be harder to electrify

Just Transition • National Just Transition Fund to deliver economic, social and environmental sustainability of the Midlands region • Reskilling, training, education and enterprise supports• Peat restoration • Retrofitting local authority homes

Enhance capacity at local level • Climate Action Regional Offices (CARO)• Local Authority Climate Action Plan


Benefits to rural communities …

•New opportunities in sustainable industries• Improved water and air quality• Improved quality of our land• Increased biodiversity•A climate resilient, robust, and profitable agri-food sector.


Looking forward …

• We need to decarbonise every part of our society, including how we

grow our food and look after our land.

• Essential that we work collaboratively on developing solutions and

maximising opportunities.

• Government is committed to meaningful engagement and dialogue

with rural communities - as demonstrated by today’s event and the

strategic approach adopted by the NDCA .

Documents

Rural ideas Forum