Government’s delayed Climate Action Plan shows signs of complacency, at worst possible time

Green Party Leader, Roderic O’Gorman TD has today given a cautious welcome to the delayed publication by the Government of the 2025 Climate Action Plan, but warned that the plan shows signs that the “foot may be coming off the pedal, right at the most critical time.”

“The next five years are make or break to continue the transformational work undertaken in achieving record reduction in emissions achieved in the last Government. 

“2026 is the critical year to establish the scale of new measures needed to get us to our target and have them implemented in time to make change. The version of the 2025 Plan that didn’t get published in December was actively preparing for this milestone and referred to the 2026 Climate Action Plan as a standalone plan geared towards the next cycle of carbon budgeting. There is no mention of the importance of next year’s plan in the document published today.”

Green Party spokesperson on Climate, Communications and Energy, Ossian Smyth stated:

“In 2023, Ireland reduced our carbon emissions by almost 7%, while at the same time the economy continued to grow. Our emissions are now the lowest they’ve been in 30 years. We have momentum, but procrastination and delays under the new Government put this progress at risk. 

“There was a version ready in December of last year, but we’re now ⅓ of the way through 2025 and the Government is only getting around to publishing it now. This  speaks to the priority that this is getting from the Government.

Green Party Agriculture spokesperson, Senator Malcolm Noonan, said:

“I welcome the fact that actions the Green Party has taken in Government have been embedded into our civil and public service, and across our big emitting sectors. The Climate Action Plan today reaffirms that, reporting a 3.5% emissions cut in the first half of 2024. It’s that progress that is so vital to continue, and build upon as 2030 comes into sight.”