'Ireland will most likely fail to meet even half' of its climate targets, President Connolly tells Bloom

Ms Connolly praised some of the climate initiatives at Bloom, including the festival's use of shuttle buses and a biodigester, which will be used to treat waste and generate energy. Picture: Tony Maxwell

“We cannot continue with business as usual” when it comes to the environment, food security and sustainability, President Catherine Connolly has said.

At her first Bord Bia Bloom festival in Dublin’s Phoenix Park, Ms Connolly said the amount of food Ireland imports and exports is “stark”. She made the comments a day after an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report found Ireland is on track to miss more of its climate targets.

Its latest emission report confirmed Ireland made slight headway in raising its achievable reductions over the past 12 months, with projected reductions rising from 23% to 25%. However, should all policies and plans in place at present be carried out as projected, a 25% reduction could be achieved by 2030. This is compared to a national target of 51%.

Ms Connolly said “Ireland will most likely fail to meet even half” of its target. She noted that as Bloom marks its 20th anniversary, 2026 also marks the seventh anniversary of Ireland's declaration of a climate and biodiversity emergency.

“Despite very positive initiatives, this transformative action has not happened at the speed or scale required,” she said. “Central to any action on climate change, of course, is food security and sustainability.

“The figures are absolutely stark. Ireland continues to import approximately 83% of all fruit and vegetables consumed, while we export approximately 90% of the food produced in the country.

“Clearly, we cannot continue with business as usual. Fortunately, individuals and communities are to the forefront in recognising this.”

Ms Connolly praised some of the climate initiatives at Bloom, saying that the work is an “inspiration and hope to me as President of Ireland”. She also praised the festival's use of shuttle buses and a biodigester, which will be used to treat waste and generate energy.

She also noted some initiatives had come from “official Ireland”, including the Department of Agriculture and Fingal County Council, noting that they were an “essential part of the solution, given the existential threat posed by climate change”.

She praised Bloom as a “joyful celebration of Irish food, horticulture, sustainability, creativity”, noting that it is a “special privilege” to be the festival’s patron.

President Catherine Connolly (centre) with her husband Brian (left) and garden designer James Purdy (right) from Repak as she officially opened the Bloom 2026 Festival in the Phoenix park in Dublin. Picture: Tony Maxwell

Thursday marked the first day of Bord Bia Bloom, with thousands turning out to the Phoenix Park in Dublin to soak up the sunshine.

There were some 11 gold medals, with the overall large garden category award going to the “Recycled, Reused and Refilled Sculptural Garden”, sponsored by Repak and designed by James Purdy, while the overall medium garden category award was presented to The “Future in Mind” garden, sponsored by the Mental Health Commission and designed by Joe Eustace.

President Connolly visited both gardens as she attended the festival.

Some 19 medals were presented across the show garden category, with 17 medals awarded to new and returning plant nurseries.

• Louise Burne is a political correspondent for the Irish Examiner