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Irish climate policy and green jobs
Neil Walker
Global Solidarity Summer School
2nd September 2011
Outline
 Structure and remit of IBEC’s policy units
 The role businesses can play in helping to meet
Ireland’s climate change obligations
 How we can benefit from joined-up thinking
about climate policy and the green economy
IBEC provides help and advice to a diverse membership
Policy
Division
Business Sector
Associations
Private sector
Circa 7500
members
Regional
Offices
Public sector
We cover a wide range of policy areas
Energy
Environment
Occupational
Health & Safety
Joint Business
Council
European Affairs
(Brussels)
Public
Organisations
Transport
and Trade
Economics &
Taxation
Social
Policy
Survey
Unit
We view energy, climate and agriculture as interlinked
 Ireland faces a colossal challenge over the period to
2020:
– comply with EU targets on greenhouse gas
emissions, energy efficiency and renewables
– maintain our cost competitiveness, particularly in
exporting industries such as food
 A number of recent analyses broadly agree on where
the biggest opportunities exist to meet our obligations
at minimum economic cost
Irish GHG emissions reflect the structure of our economy
 Roughly two-thirds arise from energy, one-third from farming
 Much of the energy-related emissions are attributable to
private transport and residential heating
 If we strip out the EU ETS sector, then agriculture accounts
for nearly 40% of remaining emissions
 Opportunities for emissions reductions in the beef and dairy
sector are quite limited
– particularly in the context of sustainable job creation
through Food Harvest 2020
Cost implications
Abatement cost per
avoided tonne of CO2
Typical examples of the low carbon technology
€0 - €20
Energy efficiency in buildings and transport
€20 - €40
Onshore wind energy, solid biomass fuels, biogas
€40 - €60
Improved farming and forestry practices
€60 - €100
Gaseous and liquid bio-fuels, electric vehicles
€100 - €150
Offshore wind energy, Carbon capture & storage
€150 - €200
Wave energy, hydrogen fuel cells
These costs are based on technical models so they
don’t include any macro-economic “multiplier” effects.
Getting the right policy mix is vital (but tricky)
 Business can play a leading role by delivering jobs and
investment in low-carbon technologies for energy services such
heating, lighting and transport. Many of these are still dependant on
policy support.
 To maximise the economic benefit to society, we must identify
combinations of policies that are mutually reinforcing.
 Failure to develop a coherent national climate change strategy
could be extremely costly in terms of existing and future jobs.
 To implement the chosen policy mix we would support the
establishment of new institutions underpinned by new climate
legislation.
Green jobs - can we give a helping hand?
 IBEC is delighted to be
associated with the NWPP
Green Business initiative
 We actively encourage
members and nonmembers to avail of this
free confidential service
Thank you