Ireland details its €125bn Climate Action Plan to 2030

The Irish government has unveiled its €125bn Climate Action Plan, which sets out sectoral targets to cut the country's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2030 by 51% compared to the 2018 level. According to the policy document, the electricity sector is required to lower its GHG emissions by 62-81% from 2018 levels, the transport sector by 42-50%, and the agricultural sector by 22-30%. Renewables (wind and solar) should account for 80% of Ireland's power mix by 2030, mostly from offshore wind, and coal- and peat-fired power generation will be phased out by 2030. Ireland will also support self-consumption for households generating their own electricity and a separate scheme will be adopted for farmers, businesses and communities. In addition, three new power interconnection lines should be built with Northern Ireland (United Kingdom), England (UK) and the European Union. The plan also includes other targets, such as 1 million electric vehicles, and the retrofitting of 500,000 homes by 2030 (target of 44-56% reduction in emissions from Homes and Buildings). Most of the €125bn investment required by the plan is expected to be provided by the private sector.

In July 2021, Ireland transformed into law the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill. The law sets a binding target of cutting GHG emissions by 51% by 2030 compared to 2018, with the aim of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050. According to Ireland's Environmental Protection Agency, the country's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions decreased by 3.6% in 2020 to 58 MtCO_2eq. The decrease in emissions is reflected in most sectors with the exception of increases in residential, agriculture, and public services.