Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership

Green Growth Summit 2026: Philip Nugent, Director General International & EU Affairs, Ireland GOV

Duration: 3:10 660 transcript words EN summary

Video summary

From Ireland's perspective as a member state, the upcoming European climate law must be adapted to reflect unique national realities, particularly regarding agriculture, energy security, and price stability. Philip Nugent emphasizes that the scale and composition of Ireland's agricultural sector are distinctive and require specific recognition within the EU framework. The goal is to ensure that tools available under the new legislation support the necessary level of ambition while addressing these critical Irish priorities. This approach aims to build upon positive language already present in the law, ensuring that areas requiring focused attention in an Irish context are adequately catered for before Ireland assumes its presidency role in July. As Ireland prepares to take on the presidency starting in April, a primary objective is to shape the post-2030 framework so that it is viewed as supportive of EU competitiveness rather than being seen solely as a mechanism for emissions reduction. Nugent argues that climate action must be intrinsically linked to strategic autonomy, energy security, and economic strength. Key areas such as the Emissions Trading System (ETS) review and the circular economy are identified as critical files that need to be discussed through a lens of competitiveness. The circular economy is described as the other side of the climate action coin, contributing not only to emission cuts but also to improving conditions for EU citizens and businesses by enhancing strategic independence. The Irish presidency will place a heavy focus on fostering cooperation between the business community and the European Council, driven by the need for regulatory, policy, and investment certainty. In an era marked by geopolitical volatility, particularly highlighted by recent events in the Middle East, the European Union must provide a stable environment that encourages long-term investment decisions. The strategy involves harnessing existing positive elements of climate policy, such as lowering energy prices and valuing essential resources, to tackle emissions without compromising economic growth. This balanced approach ensures that the fundamentals of European climate policy continue to support the long-term strategic decisions required by businesses across the union. Ultimately, the agricultural sector remains at the heart of Ireland's identity and the livelihood of its rural communities, which are described as the heartbeat of the nation. It is imperative that these communities receive fair treatment and that the targets set for them are both ambitious and realistic. By ensuring proper recognition of their role in emissions reductions while protecting their interests, Ireland aims to demonstrate that climate goals can be achieved without sacrificing national identity or economic well-being. This commitment to fairness and achievability underscores the broader message that effective climate action must be grounded in the specific contexts and values of member states like Ireland.

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First of all, from a member state point of view, Ireland has a number of really important priorities that we need to build on from the European climate law. So, the importance of our agriculture sector is something that we need to reflect in the next stage. Similarly, energy prices, energy security. So, we think that there is enough language in there that we can come back to to ensure that we try to build on that positive language to ensure that the areas that require real focus in an Irish context are taken care of, that they're catered for. So, particularly, we need to ensure that there is recognition of the the scale and the composition of our agriculture sector because it is quite unique. So, that's an important factor for us, and we need to ensure that we have the tools available to us to achieve the level of ambition that's required under the European climate law. From a presidency perspective, obviously, we have a window between now and possibly April where we can talk about our member state positions, the Irish priorities. Then, we need to switch to presidency mode and be ready for taking on that role from the 1st of July onwards. We expect the post-2030 framework to appear quite late in our presidency, but what's really important for us is to ensure that the conversations are started in a way that is conducive to viewing the European climate law, the post-2030 architecture as being supportive of EU competitiveness, and not seen as a purely environmental, purely about emissions reductions. This needs to be about competitiveness, about energy security, and strategic autonomy for the EU. The post-2030 framework is a key priority for us. The ETS review will be critically important also. Circular economy, we have always seen the circular economy as being the the other side of the of the climate action coin. So, that's a really important file for us again to progress and to ensure that when it's discussed, possibly for orientation debate in the December Council, that it's looked at through the competitiveness lens because it's also contributing towards emissions reductions, yes, but critically, strategic autonomy for the EU and improving the position for our citizens and businesses throughout the EU. I see cooperation between the business community in the EU and the European Council as critically important. The business community requires regulatory certainty, policy certainty, and investment certainty. So, our focus in the Irish presidency will be on competitiveness, security, and values. And competitiveness across the board across all council formations, it is critically important that we harness the things that are positive, that are working from a climate perspective in terms of emissions reductions, lowering energy prices, putting a value on the things that we need to that we need to put value on in order to tackle emissions. But, that's why for us the the ETS is critical. There are there are innovations that we can make, but the fundamentals of European climate law and European climate policy are really important for supporting the long-term decisions that the business community is making. We need to focus on that and continue to do so so that we have a really clear environment for investment into the future because we've seen even before the last 3 weeks and events in the Middle East just how volatile the geopolitical situation was. European Union needs to provide that sort of stability and long-term investment horizon for business. The agricultural sector in Ireland is critically important. It's it goes to the heart of our recognition, our identity, what it means to be Irish. Our rural communities are the heartbeat of Ireland. It's really, really important that we have proper recognition of their role, of their contribution that they can make to emissions reductions, but also that that that they're treated fairly and that the targets that are set are achievable, ambitious, and realistic.