'Unlike other challenges we have faced' - Irish emissions trend upwards despite climate progress

Ireland's emissions continue to trend upwards despite the completion of almost 80% of actions under the Climate Action Plan. 

The Department of the Taoiseach today (February 28) released the fourth and final Progress Report of the 2021 Climate Action Plan, which shows a final overall implementation rate of 79%, or 760 measures out of 965 completed for the four quarters in 2022. 

However, 2022 was Ireland's hottest year on record, according to Met Éireann, with temperatures in Europe at large increasing by more than twice the global average. 

This is despite Ireland making progress in areas including transport electrification, renewables, circular economy and peatland rehabilitation. 

Some important actions completed in Quarter 4 include the commencement of Ireland's first offshore renewable energy auction, the launch of Ireland's first all-electric bus service, the restoration of six raised bog sites covering an areas of over 300 hectares, and the provision of 4,550 green skills training places  through the SOLAS Green Skills programme. 

It also includes the introduction of a new Deposit and Return Scheme for plastic bottles and aluminium cans to incentivise waste reduction, the launch of a new SEAI National Retrofit Scheme (underatken in over 27,000 homes), and the launch of a new agri-environment scheme encouraging the planting of small areas of native trees on farms. 

Factors relating to the upward trend of energy-related emissions include increased fossil fuel use in electricity generation (arising partly from the war in Ukraine), increased transport and energy emissions following Ireland’s emergence from COVID restrictions, and a persistent coupling of economic activity with greenhouse gas emissions. 

According to the Department of the Taoiseach, any delays in implementing high impact actions may have significant consequences for Ireland's ability to meet legally binding carbon budgets. 

Speaking about the issue, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said, "The climate crisis is unlike other challenges we have faced. It requires a rethink of how we work, travel, use our land and source our energy. In short, system change. Ireland is facing up to that generational challenge. 

"I am heartened by some of the progress made in our 2021 Climate Action Plan, but we need to accelerate our work in this area and move much more quickly to implement agreed climate actions across all sectors. 

"This is a moment of real opportunity. We can ensure warmer homes, cleaner air, fewer journeys, less time commuting, more remote and home working, more jobs and regional development. The 2023 Climate Action Plan will help us to achieve this and bring about new income, employment and investment opportunities."

He continued: "We must all work together to create a sustainable future. We must be the generation that turns the tide on climate change and biodiversity loss and leave the planet to the next generation in a better condition than we inherited it.” 

Tánaiste Micheál Martin said, "The climate crisis is changing the world around us, and these effects are hugely evident here in Ireland and across the continent. We must act faster to address this, not only to achieve our international targets and our national legally-binding commitments, but to improve our prospects and quality of life. We have no time to lose, for Ireland and for the planet”. 

Minister Eamon Ryan said, "The 2021 Climate Action Plan demonstrates that we are making steady progress, but the scale of the climate crisis means that we need to continue to respond this year and over following years with even more urgency, more innovation and more collaboration and partnership to ensure that climate action makes people’s lives, not just more sustainable, but better and more viable.

"The changes we have to make are significant but the opportunities and benefits are also significant. We have to implement these changes in a way that is both fair and equitable; every sector, every place and every person matters in this transition.”