The Climate Action Plan is a roadmap for reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Govt must 'pull finger out', publish Climate Action Plan

by · RTE.ie

The Government has been told to "pull the finger out" and publish the Climate Action Plan for 2026.

The plan is a roadmap for Ireland meeting its national and EU climate obligations and for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Ireland's Climate Act commits the State to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030, compared with 2018 levels, and to achieving climate neutrality by 2050.

At this morning's meeting of the Cabinet, Minister for Climate Darragh O'Brien sought Government approval for the draft of the next update to the plan in advance of the environmental assessment screening process.

The plan is expected to be published before the end of the year.

However, the Government has been accused by Opposition parties of retreating from climate action.

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore and Green Party leader Roderic O'Gorman both criticised the Government for an 11-month wait for this year's plan to be published.

Speaking outside Leinster House, Ms Whitmore said: "The fact that we're in November and the Climate Action Plan for 2026 has not yet been published just goes to show exactly how little this Government cares about climate action. It's just pure illustration.

"It's disgraceful - the Government needs to pull its finger out - it's about ensuring we try to reduce our emissions as much as possible," she added.

Mr O'Gorman said it was an "absolute joke" that the plan is yet to be published.

"There is a legal obligation on the Government to publish an annual update in terms of the climate action plan, and time and time again, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael deny that they are retreating climate action since the Green Party left Government.

"Yet, this failure to publish the Climate Action Plan is just one piece of evidence of that continuous retreat.

"And they're doing the same thing here that they did in terms of housing targets and removing annual house building targets by removing targets; they remove the ability to to to scrutinise themselves," he said.