Ireland is on track to deliver only about half of the greenhouse gas emission reductions required by 2030, according to the latest projections from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Climate Action Plan 2023 aims for a 51% reduction in emissions by 2030 compared to 2018 levels, but current policies are expected to achieve only a 29% cut.
The EPA's 2024 projections, published in July 2024, show that with existing measures, Ireland's emissions would be 29% lower by 2030. Even with additional planned measures, the reduction would reach only 42%, still short of the target. The shortfall is attributed to slow progress in key sectors such as transport, agriculture, and energy.
Transport emissions have risen due to increased car use and a slow shift to electric vehicles. Agriculture, Ireland's largest source of emissions, has seen limited reductions due to the dominance of livestock farming. The energy sector has made some progress with renewable electricity, but fossil fuels still play a major role.
The Irish government has acknowledged the challenge and is updating its Climate Action Plan. However, experts warn that without more aggressive policies, including carbon taxes and stricter regulations, the 2030 target will be missed. The EPA report emphasizes that additional measures are needed urgently to close the gap.
