Greens say EPA report an urgent wake-up call for Government to scale up climate action measures

The Green Party has today expressed serious concern at the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) alarming projection that Ireland’s climate progress has regressed.

This comes amid recent warnings from climate scientists that there is now a chance Earth could exceed the critical 2°C warming threshold within the next five years.

Green Party Leader, Roderic O’Gorman TD, stated:

“The Green Party in Government delivered the lowest level of carbon emissions in 30 years, turning the tide on years of stagnation in progress.”

“Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael need to bring the same level of urgency to reducing emissions – but that means heeding the warnings of the EPA and making the shift from policy aspiration to fast-tracking practical implementation.”

The Green Party proposes stepping up ambition and investment in sectors which are lagging behind in emissions progress, particularly transport and buildings. Ossian Smyth, Green Party Spokesperson for Climate, Communications and Energy, said:

“The changes that Ireland needs to catch up with the rest of Europe on climate will improve our daily quality of life. If we bring LUAS and commuter rail to our regional cities, help people in rural Ireland to buy EVs, and make it safe for all children to walk and cycle to school, we will be back on the right track.

We should be helping tenants and senior citizens with energy upgrades for their homes. If the rest of Europe is going to make these targets, there is no excuse for our Government to sit on their hands.”

The EPA’s report makes clear that even in the most optimistic scenario — where every climate policy and measure planned by the Government is implemented in full and on time — we would still only achieve a 23% reduction in emissions by 2030. Further measures and innovative proposals across all sectors will now be required for rapid implementation to reach our agreed targets.

We call on the Government to make a clear and renewed commitment to scaling-up climate ambition to reach our legally binding targets enshrined in the Climate Act.