Ireland's Government Approves Ambitious Climate Action Plan 2025
Ireland's Government has approved the updated Climate Action Plan 2025 (CAP25), aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet climate neutrality goals. The plan, the fifth overall update, comes as Ireland's overall emissions decreased by 7% in 2023, with the electricity sector leading the way.
CAP25, the third update since Ireland committed to reducing its emissions by 51% by 2030, acknowledges the need for a vertically integrated planning policy to achieve national climate objectives. To meet the 2030 renewable electricity targets, an additional 4,333MW of onshore wind and 7,555MW of solar generation is required.
The plan also announced new sector-specific actions, including an Offshore Transmission Strategy and recommendations for long-duration energy storage procurement. A record budget of €240 million was allocated to the Warmer Homes Scheme in Budget 2025 to combat energy poverty.
Despite progress, challenges remain. Agricultural emissions decreased by 4% in 2023, but transport emissions increased by 0.3%. The industry sector's emissions are projected to exceed carbon budgets by significant amounts in the coming years.
CAP25's approval signals Ireland's commitment to tackling climate change. However, with potential fines for missing 2030 targets estimated at €8.1 billion (Department of Environment Climate and Communications) or €20 billion (Irish Fiscal Advisory Council), the stakes are high. The Government must now ensure the plan's successful implementation to meet its ambitious climate goals.
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