Ireland's binding greenhouse targets now 'fanciful' after 20% rise in emissions

The new Eurostat figures show that the rise in Ireland’s emissions is markedly higher than many other countries.

Any notion that Ireland can reach the legally required 51% reduction in our greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 is now fanciful, it has been claimed, after it emerged emissions rose by 20% in the first quarter of this year.

Eurostat said the hike in emissions in Ireland compared to the first three months of 2021 was the third highest in the EU. Only Bulgaria and Malta had higher increases.