Ireland, along with Denmark and Luxembourg, has the most challenging target for greenhouse-gas emissions reductions in the EU. While significant progress has been made in the area of decarbonising electricity, the same cannot be said in relation to transport, where the target of 10 per cent of renewable energy use in the transport sector remains a significant challenge. In relation to electric vehicles, within five years they must account for 20 per cent of new cars sold in Ireland. Together with the fact that transport represents 42 per cent of Ireland’s overall energy use, this is a stark demonstration of the challenge ahead. Energy Ireland has organised a high-level summit, with the support of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, to bring together the key players for a day of policy discussion and looking ahead to the transition to a low-carbon future for the transport sector. Taking place on Thursday 9 February in Dublin Castle, the event will examine the scale of the challenge and explore potential solutions. All of Ireland’s major transport, energy and environment players will be in attendance and delegates will hear directly from those at the forefront of this important policy area. Themes examined will include:

  • Transport and climate change policy in 2017;
  • Strategy for meeting Ireland’s emissions targets;
  • Decarbonising Ireland’s transport industry;
  • The European perspective on transport decarbonisation – meeting 2030 targets;
  • The National Transport Mitigation plan;
  • Economic impact of decarbonisation;
  • Transport in cities and the urban environment;
  • Innovation in the transport industry;
  • Moving towards lower emission vehicles.

Policy overview and visiting speakers

The conference will open with Shane Ross TD, Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, who will look at the environmental challenges for Irish transport. Delegates will also hear from an expert panel of speakers from Irish industry leaders including Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, Gas Networks Ireland, Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport, Environmental Protection Agency, National Transport Authority, ESB and leading car manufacturers such as BMW Group Ireland and Nissan Ireland. This year’s conference will have a panel of visiting international experts including:
  • Uniting the transport sector to decarbonise Europe’s transport José Viegas, Secretary-General, International Transport Forum
  • Efficient, intelligent, autonomous: Applying low emission vehicle technologies Gloria Esposito, Head of Projects, Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership
  • Transport innovations and the carbon equation Professor Jillian Anable, Professor of Transport and Energy, Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds
  • Low emissions transport and a comprehensive plan for a zero carbon urban future Laurie Laybourn-Langton, Research Fellow, Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR)
Local energy-sector leaders addressing the conference include:
  • Shane Ross TD, Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport
  • Laura Burke, director general, Environmental Protection Agency
  • Jim Gannon, chief executive officer, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland
  • Anne Graham, chief executive officer, National Transport Authority
  • Laura Behan, hhead of Climate Change Unit, Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport
  • Gareth Davis, head of eCars, ESB Group
  • Daniel FitzPatrick, commercialisation manager, Gas Networks Ireland
  • James McCarthy, chief executive, Nissan Ireland
  • Brian Ó Gallachóir, director of energy policy and modelling research, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork
  • Andrew Kelly, co-founder & CEO, EnvEcon
  • Paulo Alves, managing director, BMW Group Ireland

Networking opportunity

While there will be much knowledge disseminated in the formal conference sessions, Energy Ireland is about more than just policy discussion. The conference brings together the key movers and shakers in Irish transport and climate change affording them the opportunity to network and socialise as well as engage in the informal discussions that can ultimately lead to real business development. For more information on the Transport and Climate Summit, or to view the full conference programme, go to the website www.energyireland.ie. To book a place at the conference, call +353 (0)1 661 3755.