Minister Ryan announces Long-term Strategy on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions
The government has approved Ireland’s updated Long-term Strategy on Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Reduction.
The strategy provides a pathway to a whole-of-society transformation and serves as a vital link between shorter-term Climate Action Plans and Carbon Budgets and the longer-term objective of the European Climate Law and Ireland’s National Climate Objective.
Welcoming the updated strategy, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan said:
“Planning over a 30-year time horizon will help Ireland to avoid costly investments in high-emissions technologies and unnecessary additional compliance costs. It will also help ensure that we can put in place the systems and infrastructure needed to ensure that everyone can benefit from the transition ahead of us, in a fair and equitable way. In everything we do over the coming decades, it is absolutely imperative we inform and bring people with us, from large-scale investors to small farmers.
“Achieving our National Climate Objective of climate neutrality will mean that Ireland will have no further negative impacts on the climate system by the mid-century. This represents an extremely ambitious target for Ireland to meet over the next three decades, but one which is in line with scientific evidence, our international and legal commitments, and the scale and severity of the climate crisis facing the world. Our ambition underscores Ireland’s commitment to showing leadership on climate action while ensuring that nobody is left behind.”
This strategy is an update to the one prepared in 2023 , and it is the first to be prepared under our Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Acts 2015 to 2021. It conforms to both EU and national requirements and, as such, it will be submitted to the European Commission and the UNFCCC to replace our 2023 strategy. In addition, the strategy is consistent with Climate Action Plan 2024 and Ireland’s National Energy and Climate Plan. Development of the strategy has been informed by public consultation, as well as input provided by government ministers and the Climate Change Advisory Council.
The strategy points to the long-term sectoral adjustments that will be needed to reach climate neutrality, allowing Ireland to:
- avoid costly investments in high-emissions technologies
- support a just and equitable transition
- promote technological innovation
- plan for new sustainable infrastructure in light of future climate risks
- and send early and predictable signals to investors about envisaged long-term societal changes
Ireland’s updated Long-term Strategy on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction is available on the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications website.
