EU's Green Deal heaps pressure on Ireland's offshore wind targets     

The world's most ambitious climate change plan sets the bar higher for EU member states

European Commissioner for the European Green Deal, Frans Timmermans. The EU is unveiling sweeping new legislation to help to meet its pledge to cut emissions of gases that cause global warming by 55% during this decade. Picture: AP/Valeria Mongelli

The world's most ambitious climate change plan unveiled by the European Commission will heap pressure on Ireland to meet its plan to generate a huge part of electricity from offshore wind by 2030, while at the same time meeting the demand from data centres, Irish experts have said.     

The EU wants member states to focus on buildings and road transport, which have barely contributed to reducing carbon emissions, and proposes bans on the sale of all new petrol and diesel cars by 2035 while establishing rules for countries to provide electric and hydrogen fuel recharging points on their road networks.