What's being done?

National

Figures released in January 2008 indicate that Ireland’s total greenhouse gas emissions in 2006 were 25.5% above 1990 levels, compared to our target of 13%.  The sector causing most concern is the transport sector with a 165% increase since 1990 due to the increased use of private cars on the roads. It is expected that greenhouse gas emissions from transport could increase to 19 million tonnes CO₂-equivalent, a 265% increase over the 1990 levels.

In 2000 the Department of Environment Heritage and Local Government published the first National Climate Change Strategy (revised in 2007) outlining the key objectives for reductions in greenhouse gases across the energy, transport, industrial, agriculture, forestry and built environment sectors.

Greenhouse gas emissions in the country have since stabilised but are not showing any downward trend to meet our Kyoto target.  For Ireland to reach its target by 2012, the government has set aside €270 million for investment in flexible mechanism projects allowing Ireland to purchase 3.6 million other units for each of the 5 years in the Kyoto period 2008-2012.

Based on the EU goal to reduce emissions by 20% of 1990 levels by 2020, Ireland will have to play a greater role in the new “effort sharing” agreement that was presented in January 2008 for consultation. 

Any future target will require partnership between government departments, business, industry and the community if Ireland is to achieve these goals.