Government challenged over failure to submit long-term climate strategy

Ireland 'behind its peers, raising concerns about the ability to achieve long-term targets', court hears

Bad weather in Cork City last week. Article 15(1) of the EU’s Regulation on Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action required each member state to prepare a 30-year strategy by January 1, 2020, with subsequent shorter strategies required afterwards. Picture: Dan Linehan

The Government’s failure to prepare and submit its long-term climate strategy — due more than three years ago — puts Ireland out of step with most other EU member states, an environmental group has claimed in the High Court.

Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) wants the court to force the environment and climate minister to prepare and submit the strategy to the European Commission, as required by EU law.