The NESC Secretariat, at the request of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, has undertaken analysis to inform the development of Irish climate change policy. The NESC Climate Change project includes the development of potential policies and measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture, transport, heat in buildings and renewable energy supply; and, a basis for a national transition to a low-carbon future by 2050. After producing an interim report in June 2012, this work completed with a Final report sent to the Department of Environment in December 2012.
While the NESC Council discussed this work during its preparation, readers should note that this, and the Interim one before it, is a report by the NESC Secretariat rather than a NESC Council report of the normal kind. Accordingly, as consultants to the Department, the NESC Secretariat will not be a policy advocate in the ongoing public discussion.