Public consultation on the next update to the Climate Action Plan – Climate Priorities

Ireland is committed to the transition to a climate-resilient, biodiversity-rich, and climate-neutral economy by no later than the end of 2050, as set out in the National Climate Objective in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 (as amended).

The annual update to the climate action plan is an opportunity to reflect on progress to date and to set out new implementation approaches, measures and actions that can build on the existing programmes to accelerate Ireland closer to its target trajectory.

The most recent Climate Action Plan (CAP), CAP25 was the third update to the plan since the amended Climate Act was signed into law in 2021. CAP25 builds on CAP24, and together they provide a substantial national programme of measures to achieve a significant reduction in emissions to 2030 and beyond. For reference, these plans are available on the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment's website at the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-climate-energy-and-the-environment/publications/climate-action-plan/

To support and inform the preparation of the next update to the Climate Action Plan, which is planned for publication later this year, the department is now launching a public consultation.

The latest Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) projections show that Ireland is now projected to meet the first Carbon Budget, and while the projections for the 2030 target and Second Carbon Budget have also improved since last year, further work is required to continue narrowing the gap to the 2030 target as well as improving the trajectory to the 2050 target of climate neutrality. The EPA's latest projections are available on their web page at the following link: https://www.epa.ie/publications/monitoring--assessment/climate-change/air-emissions/irelands-greenhouse-gas-emissions-projections-2025-2030.php

The update to the Climate Action Plan comes at a critical juncture in national climate policy as Ireland transitions into the second Carbon Budget period (2026–2030). This requires an increased level of delivery across all sectors and in particular a focus on delivering the highest impact measures in each key sector.

The update to the CAP will, therefore, necessarily be a more streamlined and implementation-focused plan, identifying strategic, realistic and deliverable, high-impact actions that will be delivered over the course of the budget programme to support the accelerated and maximum impact of measures already in place or additional measures. This implementation focus is in line with repeated feedback from stakeholders, for example the the Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) and the EPA, that Ireland needs to build on its extensive plans and programmes through a laser focus on delivery.

The update will also consider affordability, climate resilience, energy and food security and competitiveness, in seeking to correct the projected emissions trajectory.

Insights from both the department's 'Climate Conversations' programme and the EPA’s 'Climate Change in the Irish Mind' project show that acceptance of scientific evidence on climate change is very strong in Ireland and that support for climate action is widespread among the people of Ireland. Climate Conversations 2024 found that nine in ten respondents (90%) say they are worried about climate change or consider it personally important, with 83% describing it as extremely or very important to them. The EPA's statistically representative surveys had similar findings and noted that 87% of people in Ireland say the country has a responsibility to act on climate change and should do what it can to reduce its own greenhouse emissions.

This consultation is an opportunity for members of the public, stakeholders and sectoral experts to give their views on how Climate Action Plans can best address the climate crisis by supporting the achievement of the ambitious emissions reductions which are required across all key sectors, in line with Ireland’s climate policy framework. We want to hear from you what you think is working and what more can be done to accelerate delivery.

It also provides an opportunity to express how broad public support for climate action can be translated into meaningful action on the ground, and an opportunity for consensus to emerge around specific sectoral actions.

As part of this consultation, you are invited to consider the implications of meeting Ireland's climate ambition and to set out proposals for additional policies and measures across sectoral areas, including ways to address any barriers to the achievement of sectoral targets. In that regard the Joint Oireachtas Committee's Report on Barriers to Achieving Climate Targets (2026-30) published earlier this year, as well as the sectoral reports published by the CCAC as part of its Annual Reviews, provide useful reference points for what might be important to you or your organisation.

You can view the Joint Oireachtas Committee's report at the following link: https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/committee/dail/34/joint_committee_on_climate_environment_and_energy/reports/2026/2026-02-05_report-on-barriers-to-achieving-climate-targets-2026-30_en.pdf

You can view the CCAC's Annual Reviews here: https://www.climatecouncil.ie/councilpublications/annualreviewandreport/

The key sectoral areas on which we are seeking your views on accelerating emissions reductions are:

• Electricity

• Transport

• Industry

• Buildings (residential and commercial)

• Agriculture

• Land Use and Land Use Change

The closing date for submissions is 5.30pm on Monday, 17 August 2026

Submissions should be submitted on the survey page at the following link: https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/CAPPublicConsultation

We are committed to engaging with stakeholders in a clear, open and transparent manner. Any person or organisation can make a submission in relation to this consultation. We will consider all submissions and feedback before we publish the final versions of the next update to the Climate Action Plan.

Your response to this consultation is subject to:

• the Freedom of Information Act 2014 (FOI)
• the Access to Information on the Environment Regulations 2007-2018 (AIE)
• the Data Protection Act 2018

Publishing of responses

We intend to publish the contents of all submissions received to our consultations on our website. We will redact (remove) personal data before publication.

Please indicate any sensitive information

In responding to this consultation, clearly indicate where your response contains any information which you would not wish to be released under FOI, AIE or otherwise published. This can include:

• personal information
• commercially sensitive information
• confidential information

Read our Data Privacy Notice

We would like to draw your attention to our Data Privacy Notice which explains:

• how and when we collect personal data
• why we do so
• how we treat this information
• your rights in relation to the collection of personal information
• how you can exercise those rights

You can view the department's Data Privacy Notice at the following link: Data Protection