Ireland ‘won’t come close’ to emissions reduction targets

Ireland won’t come close to meeting its greenhouse gas reduction targets even if the measures set out in the National Development Plan are fully implemented, the Environmental Protection Agency warns. It means the new climate action plan due to be unveiled by the Government in the coming weeks will have to contain radical policies to slash emissions.

It is already too late to meet the 2020 targets. Emissions were meant to have been cut by 20% compared to 2005 levels, but the reduction will be less than 1% when that milestone comes around next year. By 2030, if all planned reduction measures are carried out, total emissions can be expected to fall by 10% — far short of the 30% target.