Green Party calls for rapid action to meet emissions targets
The Green Party has today (Wednesday, May 28) expressed concern at the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) projection that Ireland's climate progress has regressed.
The party said it comes amid recent warnings from climate scientists that there is now a chance earth could exceed the critical 2°C warming threshold within the next five years.
Total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the agriculture sector 'will range from a
1% increase to a 16% decrease over the period of 2018 to 2030″ according to the EPA report.
However while the EPA has underlined the 'progress' the agriculture sector has made in relation to reducing GHG emissions, it has also warned that emissions from the Land Use, Land-use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector are projected to increase by up to 95%.
Green Party Leader, Deputy Roderic O'Gorman stated: 'The Green Party in government delivered the lowest level of carbon emissions in 30 years, turning the tide on years of stagnation in progress.
'Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael need to bring the same level of urgency to reducing emissions – but that means heeding the warnings of the EPA and making the shift from policy aspiration to fast-tracking practical implementation.'
Green Party on emissions report
The Green Party proposes stepping up ambition and investment in sectors which it said are lagging behind in emissions progress, such as transport and buildings.
Green Party spokesperson for climate, communications and energy, Ossian Smyth said: 'The changes that Ireland needs to catch up with the rest of Europe on climate will improve our daily quality of life.
'If we bring LUAS and commuter rail to our regional cities, help people in rural Ireland to buy EVs [electric vehicles], and make it safe for all children to walk and cycle to school, we will be back on the right track.
'We should be helping tenants and senior citizens with energy upgrades for their homes. If the rest of Europe is going to make these targets, there is no excuse for our Government to sit on their hands.'
The Green Party stressed that EPA's report states that even under the most optimistic scenario — where every climate policy and measure planned by the government is implemented in full and on time — we would still only achieve a 23% reduction in emissions by 2030.
The party is calling for further measures and innovative proposals across all sectors for rapid implementation to reach agreed targets.
'We call on the government to make a clear and renewed commitment to scaling-up climate ambition to reach our legally binding targets enshrined in the Climate Act,' the party has stated.
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