Climate change in the Republic of Ireland#Climate change Bill 2021

File:Ireland per capita greenhouse gas emissions versus world.svg

Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions increased between 1990 and 2001 when they peaked at 70.46 Mt carbon dioxide equivalent before decreasing each year up to 2014.{{cite web |title=Current trends climate |url=https://www.epa.ie/our-services/monitoring--assessment/assessment/irelands-environment/climate/current-trends-climate/ |website=www.epa.ie |publisher=Environmental Protection Agency |access-date=21 July 2021 |language=en}} In 2015 the emissions increased 4.1%, and in 2016 increased by 3.4% before remaining stable in 2017 and 2018, before decreasing by 4.5% in 2019 from the 2018 levels. Overall, the emissions have increased by 10.1 per cent from 1990 to 2019.

The Central Statistics Office also collate and publish data relating to emissions and the effects as recorded in Ireland.{{cite web |title=Environmental Indicators Ireland 2018 |url=https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-eii/eii18/ |website=Central Statistics Office |date=August 2018 |access-date=28 April 2021 |language=en}}

In 2017, Ireland had the third highest greenhouse gas emissions per capita in the European Union and 51% higher than the EU-28 average of 8.8 tonnes.{{cite web |title=Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change - CSO - Central Statistics Office |url=https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-eii/eii19/greenhousegasesandclimatechange/ |website=www.cso.ie |access-date=21 July 2021 |language=en}} The world average in 2016 was 4.92 tonnes.{{cite web |last1=Ritchie |first1=Hannah |author-link=Hannah Ritchie |last2=Roser |first2=Max |author2-link=Max Roser |title=Per capita greenhouse gas emissions |url=https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/per-capita-ghg-emissions?tab=chart&country=IRL~OWID_WRL |website=Our World in Data |access-date=21 July 2021}}

File:Ireland greenhouse gas emissions by sector.svg

71.4% of the emissions in 2019 came from energy industries, transport and agriculture, with agriculture the single largest contributor at 35.3%.{{cite web |title=Climate |url=https://www.epa.ie/irelandsenvironment/climate/ |website=Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |access-date=28 April 2021 |language=en}} In Irish agriculture, the two most important greenhouse gases are methane and nitrous oxide.{{cite web |title=2020 - Agricultural Emissions - greenhouse gases and ammonia - Teagasc {{!}} Agriculture and Food Development Authority |url=https://www.teagasc.ie/publications/2020/agricultural-emissions---greenhouse-gases-and-ammonia.php |website=www.teagasc.ie |access-date=21 July 2021}} 60% of Irish agricultural emissions come directly from animal agriculture, primarily as a result of methane-producing enteric fermentation from cattle. A further 30% derive from soils fertilised by manures, synthetic fertiliser or animal grazing on pasture.{{cite news |last1=Thompson |first1=Sylvia |title=Can Irish farmers reduce greenhouse gas emissions? |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/science/can-irish-farmers-reduce-greenhouse-gas-emissions-1.4587397 |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=17 June 2021 |access-date=21 July 2021}}

{{multiple image

| align = right

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| image1 = Koppen-Geiger Map IRL present.svg

| caption1 = Köppen climate classification map for Ireland for 1980–2016

| image2 = Koppen-Geiger Map IRL future.svg

| caption2 = 2071–2100 map under the most intense climate change scenario. Mid-range scenarios are currently considered more likely{{cite journal|last1=Hausfather|first1=Zeke|last2=Peters|first2=Glen|title=Emissions – the 'business as usual' story is misleading|journal=Nature|date=29 January 2020|volume=577|issue=7792|pages=618–20|doi=10.1038/d41586-020-00177-3|pmid=31996825|bibcode=2020Natur.577..618H|doi-access=free}}{{Cite journal |last1=Schuur |first1=Edward A.G. |last2=Abbott |first2=Benjamin W. |last3=Commane |first3=Roisin |last4=Ernakovich |first4=Jessica |last5=Euskirchen |first5=Eugenie |last6=Hugelius |first6=Gustaf |last7=Grosse |first7=Guido |last8=Jones |first8=Miriam |last9=Koven |first9=Charlie |last10=Leshyk |first10=Victor |last11=Lawrence |first11=David |last12=Loranty |first12=Michael M. |last13=Mauritz |first13=Marguerite |last14=Olefeldt |first14=David |last15=Natali |first15=Susan |last16=Rodenhizer |first16=Heidi |last17=Salmon |first17=Verity |last18=Schädel |first18=Christina |last19=Strauss |first19=Jens |last20=Treat |first20=Claire |last21=Turetsky |first21=Merritt |year=2022 |title=Permafrost and Climate Change: Carbon Cycle Feedbacks From the Warming Arctic |journal=Annual Review of Environment and Resources |volume=47 |pages=343–371 |doi=10.1146/annurev-environ-012220-011847 |quote="Medium-range estimates of Arctic carbon emissions could result from moderate climate emission mitigation policies that keep global warming below 3°C (e.g., RCP4.5). This global warming level most closely matches country emissions reduction pledges made for the Paris Climate Agreement..." |doi-access=free }}{{Cite web |last=Phiddian |first=Ellen |date=5 April 2022 |title=Explainer: IPCC Scenarios |url=https://cosmosmagazine.com/earth/climate/explainer-ipcc-scenarios/ |website=Cosmos |access-date=30 September 2023 |quote="The IPCC doesn’t make projections about which of these scenarios is more likely, but other researchers and modellers can. The Australian Academy of Science, for instance, released a report last year stating that our current emissions trajectory had us headed for a 3°C warmer world, roughly in line with the middle scenario. Climate Action Tracker predicts 2.5 to 2.9°C of warming based on current policies and action, with pledges and government agreements taking this to 2.1°C. |archive-date=20 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920224129/https://cosmosmagazine.com/earth/climate/explainer-ipcc-scenarios/ |url-status=live }}

}}

Between 1890 and 2008, the mean temperature recorded in Ireland measured an increase of 0.7 degrees Celsius, with an increase of 0.4 degrees Celsius between 1980 and 2008.{{cite web |title=Effects in Ireland |url=https://www.gsi.ie/en-ie/geoscience-topics/climate-change/Pages/Effect-in-Ireland.aspx |website=www.gsi.ie |publisher=Geological Survey of Ireland |access-date=21 July 2021}} Other indicators of a warming climate identified by the Environmental Protection Agency are ten of the warmest recorded years occurring since 1990, a decrease in the number of days with frost and a shorter season in which frost occurs, and increased annual rainfall in the north and west of the country. An increase in the active growing season has been recorded, as well as an increase in animals arriving in Ireland and its surrounding waters which are adapted to warmer conditions.{{cite web |title=What Impact will climate change have for Ireland? |url=https://www.epa.ie/climate/communicatingclimatescience/whatisclimatechange/whatimpactwillclimatechangehaveforireland/ |website=Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |access-date=28 April 2021 |language=en}}

A 2020 study from the Irish Centre for High-End Computing indicated that Ireland's climate is likely to change drastically by 2050.{{cite news |title=Ireland's climate likely to drastically change by 2050 |url=https://greennews.ie/ireland-dramatic-climate-change-by-2050/ |access-date=21 July 2021 |work=Green News Ireland |date=18 September 2020}} Annual average temperatures could climb to 1.6 °C above pre-industrial levels under RCP8.5, with the east of Ireland seeing the highest increase, resulting in a "direct impact" on public health and mortality.{{cite book |last1=Flanagan |first1=Jason |last2=Nolan |first2=Paul |title=Research 339: High-resolution Climate Projections for Ireland – A Multi-model Ensemble Approach |isbn=978-1-84095-934-5 |page=33 |url=https://www.epa.ie/publications/research/climate-change/research-339-high-resolution-climate-projections-for-ireland-.php |access-date=23 July 2021}} The study also predicted the number of frost days to decrease between 68 and 78 per cent, summer precipitation to decrease by up to 17%.

In June 2023, there was a Category 4 (extreme) marine heatwave in Irish waters, with some regions experiencing a Category 5 (beyond extreme) increase in temperatures.{{cite web |title=Record-breaking North Atlantic Ocean temperatures contribute to extreme marine heatwaves {{!}} Copernicus |url=https://climate.copernicus.eu/record-breaking-north-atlantic-ocean-temperatures-contribute-extreme-marine-heatwaves |website=climate.copernicus.eu |access-date=13 July 2023}} During this heatwave sea surface temperatures reached their highest ever recorded in Irish waters.{{cite web |title=Marine Heat Wave 2023 – A Warning for the Future - Met Éireann - The Irish Meteorological Service |url=https://www.met.ie/marine-heat-wave-2023-a-warning-for-the-future |website=www.met.ie |access-date=13 July 2023}}

Temperature changes risk disrupting or changing the timing of the life cycle of plant and animal species across the country. For example, the timing of leaf unfolding in selected populations of the non native beech trees has become steadily earlier since the 1970s.{{cite journal |last1=Donnelly |first1=Alison |last2=Salamin |first2=Nicolas |last3=Jones |first3=Mike B. |title=Changes in Tree Phenology: An Indicator of Spring Warming in Ireland? |journal=Biology and Environment: Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy |date=2006 |volume=106B |issue=1 |pages=49–56 |doi=10.1353/bae.2006.0014 |jstor=20728577 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/20728577 |access-date=21 July 2021 |issn=0791-7945|url-access=subscription }} Changes to the timing of life cycle events (phenology) can result in temporal mismatches between species, as not all species and life history events are equally responsive to temperature.{{cite journal |last1=Ockendon |first1=Nancy |last2=Baker |first2=David J. |last3=Carr |first3=Jamie A. |title=Mechanisms underpinning climatic impacts on natural populations: altered species interactions are more important than direct effects |journal=Global Change Biology |date=July 2014 |volume=20 |issue=7 |pages=2221–2229 |doi=10.1111/gcb.12559|pmid=24677405 |bibcode=2014GCBio..20.2221O |s2cid=39877152 }} Such changes may result in disruption of previously synchronised ecosystem function, resulting in changes in species composition and functioning of some ecosystems.{{cite web |title=Ireland's Biodiversity Sectoral Climate Change Adaptation Plan |url=https://www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/files/32631_NPWS_Climate%20Change%20Report_15Feb(1).pdf |website=www.npws.ie |publisher=National Parks & Wildlife Service |access-date=21 July 2021}}

Ocean acidification has been recorded in the waters off at Ireland since records began in 1990 by the Marine Institute.{{cite web |title=Nutrients and Ocean Acidification (OA) |url=https://www.marine.ie/Home/site-area/areas-activity/marine-environment/nutrients-and-ocean-acidification-oa |website=Marine Institute |access-date=28 April 2021}} This is caused by the uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide into the ocean. In addition to acidification, Irish waters are becoming warmer and less salty, causing harm to marine life.{{cite news |last1=Hoare |first1=Pádraig |title=Climate change already impacting Irish waters |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40239140.html |access-date=21 July 2021 |work=Irish Examiner |date=7 March 2021 |ref=irishexam |language=en}} Harmful algae are becoming more abundant in Irish waters, not just in warmer months, potentially harming ocean creatures such as shellfish.

One of the greatest threats is to coastal and low lying regions from sea level rise, alongside increased rainfall and storm events. 40% of the population live within 5 km of the coast,{{cite web |title=Population Distribution - CSO - Central Statistics Office |url=https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-cp2tc/cp2pdm/pd/ |website=www.cso.ie |access-date=2 May 2022 |language=en}} and 70,000 Irish addresses are at risk of coastal flooding by 2050. Sea levels have risen around by 40 cm around Cork since 1842, approximate 50% greater than previously expected.{{cite journal |last1=Pugh |first1=David T. |last2=Bridge |first2=Edmund |last3=Edwards |first3=Robin |last4=Hogarth |first4=Peter |last5=Westbrook |first5=Guy |last6=Woodworth |first6=Philip L. |last7=McCarthy |first7=Gerard D. |title=Mean sea level and tidal change in Ireland since 1842: a case study of Cork |journal=Ocean Science |date=11 November 2021 |volume=17 |issue=6 |pages=1623–1637 |doi=10.5194/os-17-1623-2021 |bibcode=2021OcSci..17.1623P |url=https://os.copernicus.org/articles/17/1623/2021/os-17-1623-2021.html |language=English |issn=1812-0784|doi-access=free }} The rate of sea level rise around Dublin is approximately twice the global rate.{{cite news |title=Why sea levels are rising higher than expected in Dublin and Cork |url=https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2022/0428/1294792-rising-sea-levels-dublin-cork-ireland/ |access-date=2 May 2022 |date=28 April 2022 |language=en}}

Storm surges also have an increased risk of occurring with rising temperature, with climatologists predicting that Ireland is overdue a 3m storm surge. In addition to coastal flooding, flooding due to increased groundwater levels is also a risk.{{cite web |title=Climate Action at Geological Survey Ireland |url=https://www.gsi.ie/en-ie/geoscience-topics/climate-change/climate-action/Pages/Climate-Action-at-Geological-Survey-Ireland.aspx |website=www.gsi.ie |access-date=28 April 2021}}

An increase in water shortages are expected due to periods of drought, and a decrease in water quality.

Adverse health issues relating to climate change have also been identified by the Irish Health Service Executive, including increased risk of skin cancers, waterbourne, foodborne and respiratory diseases.{{cite web |title=Climate change and health |url=https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/healthbusinessservices/national-health-sustainability-office/climate-change-and-health/ |website=HSE.ie |access-date=28 April 2021 |language=en}}

The previous governing policy on mitigation, the 2017 National Mitigation Plan, was quashed by the Irish Supreme Court in August 2020. The Court ruled that the plan was contrary to the 2015 Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act.{{cite news |title=Climate change: 'Huge' implications to Irish climate case across Europe |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53619848 |access-date=28 April 2021 |work=BBC News |date=1 August 2020}}

Agencies, such as the Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI), have formulated a number of projects aimed at providing alternatives to current energy sources and the movement away from the contributing factors of climate change. These include the GSI's research into geothermal technologies and carbon sequestration.{{cite web |title=Climate Research at Geological Survey Ireland |url=https://www.gsi.ie/en-ie/research/our-research/Pages/Climate.aspx |website=www.gsi.ie |access-date=28 April 2021}}

{{Infobox legislation

| short_title = Carbon Fund Act 2007

| legislature = Oireachtas

| long_title = An Act to provide for the establishment of a fund to be known as the Carbon Fund to be utilised for the acquisition of Kyoto Units and other such instruments or assets by the State to meet international climate change obligations under the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the 1997 Kyoto Protocol to that Convention, to designate the National Treasury Management Agency as the agent for the acquisition, including on foot of existing or future agreements to which the State is or becomes bound, of Kyoto Units and such other instruments or assets on behalf of the State, to provide for the making available of financial resources to and the use and management of the Carbon Fund, to provide for consequential amendments to existing legislation and to provide for related matters

| autocollapse_long_title = true

| citation = Act 12 of 2007

| date_enacted = 2007-04-07

| bill_history_url = https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/bills/bill/2006/63/

| bill = Carbon Fund Bill 2006

| bill_citation = Bill 63 of 2006

| summary =

| keywords =

| status = amended

}}

In 2004 the government abandoned proposals for a carbon tax.{{Cite journal |last=Coghlan |first=Oisín |date=2007 |title=Irish Climate-Change Policy from Kyoto to the Carbon Tax: A Two-Level Game Analysis of the Interplay of Knowledge and Power |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/article/810475 |journal=Irish Studies in International Affairs |volume=18 |issue=1 |pages=131–153 |issn=2009-0072}}

In 2006, a new set of EU projections showed that Ireland was far from meeting its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol.{{Cite news |last=McDonald |first=Frank |last2=Collins |first2=Stephen |date=2006-10-30 |title=Ireland off target on Kyoto and facing stiff penalties |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland-off-target-on-kyoto-and-facing-stiff-penalties-1.1022189 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250220093537/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland-off-target-on-kyoto-and-facing-stiff-penalties-1.1022189 |archive-date=2025-02-20 |access-date=2024-02-20 |work=The Irish Times}} Ireland's emissions fell 0.8% in 2006, so Ireland's emissions were 8.5% more than would have been necessary to be on track to meet its targets under its Kyoto obligations.{{Cite news |date=2008-01-15 |title=Irish greenhouse gas emissions down 0.8% in 2006 |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/irish-greenhouse-gas-emissions-down-0-8-in-2006-1.817257 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250220100706/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/irish-greenhouse-gas-emissions-down-0-8-in-2006-1.817257 |archive-date=2025-02-20 |access-date=2025-02-20 |work=The Irish Times}}

Following on from the EU's projections, the government announced that it planned to achieve Ireland's Kyoto obligations through carbon credits, which is what the Act implements.{{Cite web |title=Ireland to use credits to meet Kyoto target |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland-to-use-credits-to-meet-kyoto-target-1.815386 |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}}

Ireland used the revenues from the carbon credits to cover administrative costs in the government.{{Cite journal |last=Pearse |first=Rebecca |last2=Böhm |first2=Steffen |date=2014-07-04 |title=Ten reasons why carbon markets will not bring about radical emissions reduction |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17583004.2014.990679 |journal=Carbon Management |volume=5 |issue=4 |pages=325–337 |doi=10.1080/17583004.2014.990679 |issn=1758-3004|url-access=subscription |hdl=1959.4/unsworks_13485 |hdl-access=free }}

{{Infobox legislation

| short_title = Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015

| legislature = Oireachtas

| long_title = An Act to provide for the approval of plans by the Government in relation to climate change for the purpose of pursuing the transition to a low carbon, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable economy; to establish a body to be known in the Irish language as An Chomhairle Chomhairleach um Athrú Aeráide or, in the English language, as the Climate Change Advisory Council; and to provide for matters connected therewith.

| autocollapse_long_title = true

| citation = Act 46 of 2015

| date_enacted = 10-12-2015

| bill_history_url = https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/bills/bill/2021/39/

| bill = Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015

| bill_citation = Bill 2 of 2015

| summary =

| keywords = climate change

| status = amended

}}

In January 2015, the Irish Government published the first climate change bill.{{Cite web |title=Long-delayed climate change Bill published to mixed reaction |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/long-delayed-climate-change-bill-published-to-mixed-reaction-1.2071567 |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}} The bill was criticised for not setting out specific targets for emissions reductions targets. Instead, there are requirements for a "National Mitigation Plan" and a "National Adaptation Framework" to be published every 5 years. The legislation requires the plans consider obligations of the government under the European Union and other international agreements, which set out a 20% reduction in emissions by 2020 over 1995 levels.

In 2016, emissions targets were missed because of emissions from transport as well as agriculture.{{Cite news |date=2016-04-08 |title=Blog: Ireland misses pollution targets by a mile |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2016/0408/780533-ireland-misses-pollution-targets-by-a-mile/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-02-19 |work=RTÉ}}

In 2017, Ireland was still giving drilling licenses.{{Cite news |date=2017-07-26 |title=Ireland's staggering hypocrisy on climate change |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jul/26/irelands-staggering-hypocrisy-on-climate-change |access-date=2025-02-19 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} A citizens' assembly voted for "radical" policies to reduce emissions.{{Cite web |title=Citizens’ Assembly votes for radical moves to tackle climate change |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/citizens-assembly-votes-for-radical-moves-to-tackle-climate-change-1.3281006 |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}} The Supreme Court of Ireland ruled that the 2017 Climate Action Plan was inadequate.{{Cite news |date=2020-08-01 |title=Climate change: 'Huge' implications to Irish climate case across Europe |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-53619848 |access-date=2025-02-19 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} Wind energy generation did not meet predictions 58% of the time. {{Cite web |last=Ryan |first=Nicky |date=2014-02-23 |title=These five graphs dig into the figures behind wind energy in Ireland |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/wind-energy-ireland-production-demand-grid-figures-1328668-Feb2014/ |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=TheJournal.ie |language=en}}

In 2019, it was revealed that Ireland was on track to miss its targets for reducing its emissions as part of EU law and as a signatory to the 2015 Paris Agreement.{{Cite web |last=O'Sullivan |first=Kevin |date=2019-10-25 |title=Q&A: Why is Ireland failing to meet its environmental targets? |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/q-a-why-is-ireland-failing-to-meet-its-environmental-targets-1.4062886https:/www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/q-a-why-is-ireland-failing-to-meet-its-environmental-targets-1.4062886 |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}} The plan released in 2019 was criticised by Sinn Féin for increasing the carbon tax.{{Cite news |last=Carroll |first=Rory |last2= |first2= |date=2019-06-17 |title=Ireland to unveil bold plan to tackle climate emergency |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/17/ireland-to-unveil-bold-plan-to-tackle-climate-emergency |access-date=2025-02-19 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} The Government declared a climate emergency.{{Cite news |date=2019-05-09 |title=Climate change: Ireland declares climate emergency |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-48221080 |access-date=2025-02-20 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

A case brought before court in 2020 "mobilised" climate activists.{{Cite web |last=Kaminski |first=Isabella |title=The legal battles changing the course of climate change |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/future/article/20231208-the-legal-battles-changing-the-course-of-climate-change |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en}}

In 2025, section 15 was invoked in a case regarding planning legislation.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-30 |title=Analysis: Climate action and planning – the Coolglass judgment |url=https://www.irishlegal.com/articles/analysis-climate-action-and-planning-the-coolglass-judgment |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=Irish Legal News |language=en}}

{{Infobox legislation

| short_title = Fossil Fuel Divestment Act 2018

| legislature = Oireachtas

| long_title = An Act to impose certain prohibitions and restrictions with respect to the investment by the National Treasury Management Agency of assets of the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund in fossil fuel undertakings and, in particular, to require that Agency to endeavour to ensure that such assets are not directly invested in such an undertaking (and, where it becomes aware that an undertaking in which such assets have been so invested by it is, or has become, a fossil fuel undertaking, to divest the assets of that fund from such investment); to make provision for a restriction on such investment when the investment is of an indirect nature (as defined hereafter); to provide for a certain exception to the prohibition on investment of assets of that fund in such an undertaking where the investment is consistent with the national transition objective (as defined hereafter), the implementation of the State‘s climate change objectives and Government policy; for those purposes to amend the National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Act 2014 ; and to provide for related matters.

| autocollapse_long_title = true

| citation = Act 29 of 2018

| date_enacted = 10-12-2015

| bill_history_url = https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/bills/bill/2021/39/

| bill = Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015

| bill_citation = Bill 103 of 2016

| summary =

| keywords = climate change, divestment

| status = in force

}}

The Fossil Fuel Divestment Act 2018 requires that investments in fossil fuels should be sold off.{{Cite news |last=Carrington |first=Damian |last2= |first2= |date=2018-07-12 |title=Ireland becomes world's first country to divest from fossil fuels |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jul/12/ireland-becomes-worlds-first-country-to-divest-from-fossil-fuels |access-date=2025-02-20 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} In 2018, this amounted to roughly €300,000,000.

The Act defines a fossil fuel company as one in which 20% or more of its revenue from exploration, extraction or refinement of fossil fuels. The Act allows investment in Irish fossil fuel companies if this funds their move away from fossil fuels.

The Act was passed to help Ireland meet the targets in the Paris Agreement.

Ireland was the first country in the world to pass this type of legislation at the time.{{Cite web |last=Stephens |first=Jennie C. |date=2018-09-07 |title=Fossil fuel divestment debates on campus spotlight the societal role of colleges and universities |url=https://theconversation.com/fossil-fuel-divestment-debates-on-campus-spotlight-the-societal-role-of-colleges-and-universities-102689 |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=The Conversation |language=en-US}} At the time of the bill being passed Ireland was ranked last among European Union member states in the 2018 Climate Change Performance Index, which is a study evaluating national climate policies.{{Cite news |last=Dwyer |first=Colin |date=2018-07-12 |title=Ireland Expected To Become World's First Country To Divest From Fossil Fuels |url=https://www.npr.org/2018/07/12/628501744/ireland-expected-to-become-worlds-first-country-to-divest-from-fossil-fuels |access-date=2025-02-20 |work=NPR |language=en}}

{{Infobox legislation

| short_title = Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021

| legislature = Oireachtas

| long_title = An Act to provide for the approval of plans by the Government in relation to climate change for the purpose of pursuing the transition to a climate resilient, biodiversity rich and climate neutral economy by no later than the end of the year 2050 and to thereby promote climate justice; to make certain changes to the Climate Change Advisory Council; to provide for carbon budgets and a sectoral emissions ceiling to apply to different sectors of the economy; to provide for reporting by Ministers of the Government to a joint committee of the Houses of the Oireachtas; to provide for local authority climate action plans; for those and other purposes to amend the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015; to provide that local authorities shall, when making development plans, take account of their climate action plans and, for that purpose to amend the Planning and Development Act 2000; to extend the purposes for which moneys may be paid out of the Climate Action Fund and, for that purpose to amend the National Oil Reserves Agency Act 2007; and to provide for related matters.

| autocollapse_long_title = true

| citation = Act 32 of 2021

| date_enacted = 23-07-2021

| bill_history_url = https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/bills/bill/2021/39/

| bill = Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021

| bill_citation = Bill 39 of 2021

| summary =

| keywords = climate change

| status = in force

}}

On 23 July, the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 was signed into law by the President. The bill creates a legally binding path to net zero emissions by 2050.{{cite web |title=Ireland's ambitious Climate Act signed into law |url=https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/9336b-irelands-ambitious-climate-act-signed-into-law/ |website=www.gov.ie |date=23 July 2021 |access-date=23 July 2021 |language=en}} Five-year carbon budgets produced by the Climate Change Advisory Council will dictate the path to carbon neutrality, with the aim of the first two budgets creating a 51% reduction by 2030.{{cite news |last1=McDermott |first1=Stephen |title=Carbon neutral by 2050: Ireland's green targets to be legally binding for the first time |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/ireland-climate-action-bill-carbon-neutral-2050-5389338-Mar2021/ |access-date=23 July 2021 |work=TheJournal.ie |language=en}} The five-year budgets will not be legally binding.{{cite web |last1=Crosson |first1=Kayle |title=A deep dive: the revised Climate Bill |url=https://greennews.ie/revised-climate-bill-feature/ |website=Green News Ireland |access-date=23 July 2021 |date=26 March 2021}}

Despite being touted as "ambitious" by the Irish Government, the bill came under heavy criticism from Irish environmentalists and scientists.{{cite news |title=Recent amendments have "gutted" Climate Bill |url=https://greennews.ie/recent-amendments-gutted-climate-bill/ |access-date=23 July 2021 |work=Green News Ireland |date=12 July 2021}} Amendments passed by the Seanad on 9 July allow the Government, rather than the Climate Change Advisory Committee to determine how greenhouse gas emissions are calculated and taken into account. Climate scientist and IPCC author John Sweeney argued that these amendments "depart from the scientifically established methodology and give discretion to the Government to decide what to measure, how to measure it, and what the removals will be and how they are counted".

Early data suggested that Ireland was on track to miss its targets in 2021.{{Cite news |last=Smyth |first=Oonagh |date=2022-04-14 |title=Ireland missed emissions targets in 2021 - early data |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/primetime/2022/0414/1292260-ireland-carbon-emissions-targets-2021/https://www.rte.ie/news/primetime/2022/0414/1292260-ireland-carbon-emissions-targets-2021/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220414062832/https://www.rte.ie/news/primetime/2022/0414/1292260-ireland-carbon-emissions-targets-2021/ |archive-date=2022-04-14 |access-date=2025-02-19 |work=RTÉ}} The incentives in the way that milk was priced - in order to stay profitable farms would be encouraged to maximise the amount of milk per cow, which would increase emissions, because emissions per cow is proportional to the volume of milk.{{Cite news |last=Smyth |first=Oonagh |date=2021-10-27 |title=Farming - a big problem for Ireland's climate goals |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/primetime/2021/1026/1256029-farming-dairy-climate-change/}} The Climate Change Advisory Council announced that Ireland would not meet upcoming carbon budget targets in 2023.{{Cite news |last=Fletcher |first=Laura |date=2023-07-25 |title=Ireland will not meet upcoming carbon budget targets, climate council warns |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2023/0725/1396281-ireland-carbon-targets/}} A case was taken to court alleging that Ireland's 2023 Climate Action Plan was not compatible with the targets in the 2021-2025 carbon budget.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-05 |title=Irish government faces landmark legal challenge over climate inaction |url=https://www.irishlegal.com/articles/irish-government-faces-landmark-legal-challenge-over-climate-inaction |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=Irish Legal News |language=en}}

Ireland initially failed to submit emissions targets to the United Nations in 2024, which was criticised by the Green Party, because development of its national plan had caused delays.{{Cite news |last=O'Sullivan |first=Kevin |date=2025-02-17 |title=Failure to submit emission targets to UN indication climate is not priority for Government, says Green Party leader |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/environment/climate-crisis/2025/02/17/failure-to-submit-emission-targets-to-un-indication-climate-is-not-priority-for-government-says-green-party-leader/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250217203450/https://www.irishtimes.com/environment/climate-crisis/2025/02/17/failure-to-submit-emission-targets-to-un-indication-climate-is-not-priority-for-government-says-green-party-leader/ |archive-date=2025-02-17 |access-date=2025-02-19 |work=The Irish Times}} A case was brought to Irish courts alleging that the plan that was released was inadeuqate.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-10 |title=First-of-its-kind climate case brought to Irish courts |url=https://www.irishlegal.com/articles/first-of-its-kind-climate-case-brought-to-irish-courts |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=Irish Legal News |language=en}}

In 2025, a Defence Forces report criticised the Government's response to climate change for having a lack of urgency.{{Cite web |last=O’Keeffe |first=Cormac |date=2025-01-30 |title=Climate change poses 'security threat' to Irish economy and society |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41564251.html |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=Irish Examiner |language=en}} A Bord na Móna executive warned that issues relating to planning and legal uncertainty would lead to targets not being met.{{Cite web |title=Bord na Móna executive warns ‘no chance’ Ireland will meet renewable targets |url=https://www.businesspost.ie/news/bord-na-mona-head-of-renewable-energy-warns-no-chance-ireland-will-meet-renewable-targets/ |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=www.businesspost.ie |language=en-US}}

The budgetary process was criticised for the lack of transparency of how much money was allocated to adaptation to climate change, as part of measures to meet targets under the act.{{Cite journal |date=2024-09-30 |title=As it happened: C&AG publishes public accounts report |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2024/0930/1472741-comptroller-auditor-general-report/ |language=en}}

Grid capacity issues meant that hitting the targets was more difficult, but remained possible if reforms to planning policy was reformed.{{Cite news |last=Conway |first=Gail |date=2025-02-17 |title=Grid capacity prevents more wind energy savings |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2025/0217/1497194-grid-capacity-prevents-more-wind-energy-savings/ |work=RTÉ}}

{{Infobox legislation

| short_title = Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Act 2024

| legislature = Oireachtas

| long_title = An Act to provide for the establishment of a fund to be known as the Future Ireland Fund for the purpose of supporting, in a consistent and sustainable manner, State expenditure in any year from 2041; to provide for the establishment of a fund to be known as the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund for the purpose of supporting State expenditure, in 2026 or any year thereafter, in the event of a significant deterioration, or likely such deterioration, in the economic or fiscal position of the State and for the purpose of supporting State expenditure, between 2026 and 2030, on certain environmental projects; to provide for the control and management of those funds by the National Treasury Management Agency; to provide for the transfer of certain assets to those funds; to provide for the dissolution of the National Surplus (Exceptional Contingencies) Reserve Fund and the transfer of the assets of that fund to the Future Ireland Fund and the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund; for those and other purposes to amend the National Treasury Management Agency Act 1990, the National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Act 2014 and certain other enactments and to repeal the National Surplus (Reserve Fund for Exceptional Contingencies) Act 2019; and to provide for related matters.

| autocollapse_long_title = true

| citation = Act 16 of 2024

| date_enacted = 18-06-2024

| bill_history_url = https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/bills/bill/2024/21/

| bill = Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Act 2024

| bill_citation = Bill 21 of 2024

| summary =

| keywords = climate change, divestment

| status = in force

}}

In October the government announced plans to create two sovereign wealth funds.{{Cite news |last=Webber |first=Jude |last2=Aníbal |first2=Sérgio |last3=Jopson |first3=Barney |date=2023-10-10 |title=Ireland and Portugal to invest budget surpluses in new sovereign funds |url=https://www.ft.com/content/c238a3e4-c097-4f73-80a5-74cbd98d403c |access-date=2025-02-20 |work=Financial Times}}

The government announced that it expected that the Future Ireland Fund would reach €100,000,000,000 by 2035. It also announced that it would invest €2,000,000,000 each year in the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund and that the fund would reach €14,000,000,000.

The Future Ireland Fund is planned to support government spending from 2041.{{Cite web |title=Law Society of Ireland Gazette |url=https://www.lawsociety.ie/gazette/top-stories/2024/april/bill-setting-up-new-state-funds-is-published/ |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=www.lawsociety.ie}}

The Green Party accused Fianna Fail of nearly collapsing the coalition over the bill and that suggested that Fianna Fail was not really committed to climate action.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-09 |title=Green party leader mocks Fianna Fail’s ‘newfound interest in climate’ |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/elections-2024/green-party-leader-mocks-fianna-fails-newfound-interest-in-climate/a2096089222.html |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=Irish Independent |language=en}}

In 2024, €4,000,000,000 was transferred from the Exchequer to the Future Ireland Fund and €2,000,000,000 was transferred from the Exchequer to the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund..{{Cite news |last=Murphy |first=David |date=2024-10-22 |title=€4 billion transferred from Exchequer to Future Ireland Fund |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2024/1022/1476695-future-fund/ |work=RTÉ}} The investment came from unusually high tax receipts.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-05 |title=Legislation establishing two new State funds published |url=https://www.irishlegal.com/articles/legislation-establishing-two-new-state-funds-published |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=Irish Legal News |language=en}} The first €10,000,000,000 was put into low-risk investments.{{Cite web |title=NTMA to put first €10bn in sovereign wealth funds into low-risk investments |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2024/07/02/ntma-has-27bn-of-cash-and-liquid-assets-at-end-june/ |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}}

In 2024, the government announced its plans to reform planning policy to address climate change.{{Cite web |title=‘Most significant reform in planning legislation since 2000’ passes in Dáil |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/oireachtas/2024/10/09/controversial-planning-and-development-bill-which-drew-hollywood-ire-passes-in-dail/ |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}}

In an attempt to capture pollutants originating from smog, Cork City Council have installed 5 CityTrees in different locations across the city. This has resulted in controversy.{{Cite web |last=English |first=Eoin |date=2023-11-08 |title=Cork City’s €400k 'robotrees' like using 'bathroom sponges in Midleton' to combat flooding |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/munster/arid-41265337.html |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=Irish Examiner |language=en}}

{{portal|Climate change}}

• Plug-in electric vehicles in the Republic of Ireland
• Renewable energy in the Republic of Ireland
• Climate change in the United Kingdom

{{reflist|2}}

• [https://www.met.ie/climate/climate-change Met Éireann's work on Climate Change]

{{Climate change regions|state=expanded}}

{{Ireland topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Climate Change In Ireland}}

Ireland

Category:Environment of the Republic of Ireland

Ire