Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015

Low carbon transition

3. (1) For the purpose of enabling the State to pursue, and achieve, the transition to a low carbon, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable economy by the end of the year 2050 (in this Act referred to as the “national transition objective”) the Minister shall make and submit to the Government for approval—

(a) a national mitigation plan, and

(b) a national adaptation framework.

(2) When considering a plan or framework, referred to in subsection (1), for approval, the Government shall endeavour to achieve the national transition objective within the period to which the objective relates and shall, in endeavouring to achieve that objective, ensure that such objective is achieved by the implementation of measures that are cost effective and shall, for that purpose, have regard to—

(a) the ultimate objective specified in Article 2 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change done at New York on 9 May 1992 and any mitigation commitment entered into by the European Union in response or otherwise in relation to that objective,

(b) the policy of the Government on climate change,

(c) climate justice,

(d) any existing obligation of the State under the law of the European Union or any international agreement referred to in section 2 , and

(e) the most recent national greenhouse gas emissions inventory and projection of future greenhouse gas emissions, prepared by the Agency.