Climate change bill ‘fails to set any targets’

Government proposals to reduce Ireland’s carbon emissions have been widely criticised for lacking targets, a clear vision and for potentially being too costly for businesses and households.

The long-awaited climate change legislation commits Ireland to be a low carbon producer by 2020 and to follow a road map on reducing greenhouse gases.

But Environment Minister Phil Hogan’s efforts were immediately criticised as lacking binding targets and only having “cosmetic additions” since TDs originally debated the bill at the Oireachtas Environment Committee.