Insufficient data in climate plan was highlighted in recent EPA report
The Government’s refusal to amend its Climate Action Plan in the wake of a stark report by the Environmental Protection Agency is inexplicable, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore.
Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on climate action and biodiversity, said:
“The EPA has warned that Ireland is on course to miss its 2030 climate targets by a considerable distance. Even if all the measures in the Climate Action Plan are implemented, the report said the Government will only achieve a 29 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by the end of the decade – well short of the legally binding target of 51 per cent.
“It is also concerning that there was insufficient data in the Climate Action Plan to allow the EPA to analyse a number of key areas. As a result, this modelling had to be excluded from the report.
“In the Dáil today, I called on Minister Eamon Ryan to immediately revise the Climate Action Plan in light of the EPA’s findings. I am deeply disappointed he did not take my suggestion on board, with the minister insisting we will not have an updated plan until December.
“At the very minimum, the Climate Action Plan should be amended to include the missing information highlighted by the EPA. That in itself constitutes a major flaw in the Government’s plan.
“Given the scale of the challenges we face in meeting our climate action targets – and the slow pace of progress to date – the lack of urgency by the minister is difficult to understand.”
June 15, 2023