The EPA has said all sectors “need to do significantly more”, particularly the agriculture sector.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has called for the “urgent implementation” of all of Ireland’s climate plans and policies.
The national body published its greenhouse gas emissions projections for Ireland for the period between 2021 and 2040 on Wednesday (1 June), which show that the country’s total emissions are estimated to have risen by 6% last year.
The data shows that planned climate policies and measures if fully implemented could deliver up to 28% emissions reduction up to 2030.
However, this is only little over half of Ireland’s legally-binding reduction target for 2030 of 51%.
“Urgent implementation of all climate plans and policies, plus further new measures, are needed for Ireland to meet the 51% emissions reduction target and put Ireland on track for climate neutrality by 2050,” the EPA said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Director General of the EPA Laura Burke has said there is a “significant gap” between the ambition in Ireland’s Climate Act and “the realisation of the necessary actions to deliver on that ambition”.
“The data shows that a step up in both the implementation of actions already set out in plans and policies and the identification of new measures is needed,” she added.
“All sectors have work to do, in particular the agriculture sector.
“As the largest contributor of national emissions, more clarity is needed on how and when it will implement actions to reduce methane within the ever-shortening timeframe to 2030.”
The EPA also said its projections indicate that Ireland has returned to pre-pandemic levels of activity, with associated levels of emissions.
“This return is likely to be exacerbated by a return to higher levels of coal used in electricity generation to meet growing national energy demand and current geopolitical impacts on energy,” it added.
“Total greenhouse gas emissions are estimated to have increased by 6% in 2021.
“It is projected that the impact of reduction measures will result in emissions decreasing from 2023 onwards.”
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