Chance for Ireland to permanently build on pandemic-related emissions drops

To meet the Government target of halving greenhouse gases by 2030, Ireland will need to have sustained emissions reductions greater than the 6% in 2020 each year.

A 6% drop in greenhouse gas emissions during the Covid-19 pandemic will count for nothing if long-term fossil-fuelled habits are not dramatically curtailed through laws, taxes, and Government incentives, a leading climate crisis expert has said.

Dr Hannah Daly, lecturer in energy, economy, environment, engineering at University College Cork (UCC) said the country had a similar chance to permanently build on emissions drops after the financial crash of 2008, but failed to do so.