The Climate Change Advisory Council
Name: The Climate Change Advisory Council
Established in: The Climate Change Advisory Council was established under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015.
Role: TThe Climate Change Advisory Council provides independent and science-based advice to Government and policy makers on what Ireland needs to do to achieve a climate resilient, biodiversity rich, environmentally sustainable climate neutral economy by 2050 and assessing the progress made towards this goal.
Duties: The Council, with the support of its Secretariat, conducts evidence-based analysis on how best to respond to the impact of climate change and provide timely advice on the most effective policies to assist with Ireland’s transition to a low carbon and climate resilient economy. As part of this work, the Climate Change Advisory Council provides regular reports regarding Ireland’s progress in achieving its national policy goals and greenhouse gas emissions targets agreed by the European Union. The Council provides the following reports in accordance with the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015: annual reviews and reports (Section 12 of the Act); periodic reviews and reports (Section 13 of the Act). The Council will also provide statements on issues and topics that it wishes to bring to the attention of government and key stakeholders. An amendment to the original Act was adopted in 2021. The amendment introduced the concepts of carbon budgets into Irish law. The Council was tasked with proposing to the Government a programme of carbon budgets for the periods 2021-2025, 2026-2030 and 2031-2035 (provisional). The Government and Oireachtas (Parliament) will then adopt carbon budgets at which point they take effect. The Government will then agree sectoral emissions ceilings and it will be the role of the Council to monitor and report on compliance with these sectoral emissions ceilings as part of its annual reviews. Ireland’s first carbon budgets were proposed by the Council on October 25th 2021. The legislation requires the Council to submit a carbon budget programme for the period 2026-2040 by the end of 2024.
Composition: The Council now composes of a chairperson (Ms. Marie Donnelly), and up to 13 ordinary members. The Council members have different backgrounds but should include the Director General of the Environmental Protection Agency; the Director of the Irish National Meteorological Service (Met Éireann) and the Director of the Agriculture and Food Development Authority (Teagasc). Members are appointed by the Government, on the nomination of the Minister.
The secretariat: Seven experts work at the secretariat of the climate change advisory council in Ireland.
