Climate Action and Environment

Protection of the environment goes hand-in-hand with the issue of climate change. By protecting and enhancing the natural environment, we can play our part in mitigating the threat of climate change.

The government's goal, now enshrined in law, is to achieve a climate-neutral and climate-resilient economy by 2050. This requires a whole-of-society effort to create a sustainable, resource-efficient economy which avoids environmental degradation, while promoting environmental awareness and environmentally sustainable behaviours.

It is the government’s ambition to develop and implement policies and measures which drive economic and social progress but which also improve and safeguard our natural environment for the future. Central to this vision is ensuring a Just Transition, which means that the journey to climate neutrality is fair, inclusive, and creates new opportunities for all citizens and communities.

Climate change is already having a devastating impact on our economy, society and environment and will continue to do so into the future. In Ireland, we are already experiencing the results of this through flooding, more extreme weather and rising sea levels. As the threats from climate change increase, so does the need for urgent action to address them.

The government recognises that taking ambitious climate action is necessary to ensure a sustainable future both nationally and globally.

Limiting global warming to 1.5°C will require rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of the economy and society, in terms of how we live, work and travel.

Ireland's response is guided by the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021. This legislation sets our climate goals into law and establishes a clear framework for achieving them through five-year Carbon Budgets and Sectoral Emissions Ceilings.

The government is committed to achieving:

• A 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 (relative to 2018 levels).
• 80% renewable electricity by 2030, primarily from wind and solar.
• A comprehensive retrofitting programme to make 500,000 homes more energy efficient.
• A rapid increase in the number of electric vehicles on our roads.

The government also recognises the vital role of the public in addressing climate change. It facilitates public engagement and participation, supporting citizens, communities, businesses and organisations in taking action which will lead us towards a climate neutral, sustainable society by 2050.

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The protection of our environment and the sustainable use of our natural resources are essential to the health and well being of everyone across Ireland, and indeed globally.

Our shared responsibility for the world's resources is behind the government's commitment to sustainable development and the reduction of environmental pollution in all its forms.

Only by integrating sustainable policies into all aspects of our society and economy can Ireland move towards a decarbonised future that thrives while protecting the natural environment and our critical resources.

The government is building these policies around:

• a circular economy, where resources are utilised for as long as possible and the production of waste is minimised through greater waste prevention and recycling
• promoting greater environmental awareness
• engaging every aspect of society in the process: citizens, businesses, communities and organisations
• supporting and funding environmental initiatives on a local and national level

The government also recognises the part that Ireland must play in the wider sustainable development agenda, on regional and international levels, to achieve a resource efficient society. Ireland has committed to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goalsnationally by 2030, as well as supporting global efforts to implement them.

The protection of the environment is a major undertaking, and requires a great deal of effort and support from across Ireland, and the rest of the world. In turn, greater care of the environment will result in higher standards of living and a better quality of life for all.

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