Long-term Strategy on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions

Ireland’s Long-term Strategy on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions sets out indicative pathways, beyond 2030, towards achieving carbon neutrality for Ireland by 2050. 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.

The Long-term Strategy covers, with a perspective of at least 30 years:

• total greenhouse gas emission reductions and enhancements of removals by sinks;
• emission reductions and enhancements of removals in individual sectors, including electricity, industry, transport, the heating and cooling and buildings sector (residential and tertiary), agriculture, waste and land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF);
• expected progress on transition to a low greenhouse gas emission economy, including greenhouse gas intensity, CO2 intensity of gross domestic product, related estimates of long-term investment, and strategies for related research, development and innovation;
• the expected socio-economic effect of the decarbonisation measures, including aspects related to macro-economic and social development, health risks and benefits and environmental protection; and
• links to other national long-term objectives, planning and other policies and measures, and investment.

This Strategy is an update to the one prepared in 2023, and the first to be prepared under Ireland’s Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Acts 2015 to 2021. It conforms to both EU and national requirements, and as such, will replace the 2023 Strategy that was submitted to the EU Commission and UNFCCC. 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.