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Ireland

Reduce CO2 eq. emissions from the transport sector by 45–50% relative to 2030 pre-NDP projections

Reduce CO2 eq. emissions from the electricity sector by 50–55% relative to 2030 Pre-NDP projections

at least 40,000 ha per annum of reduced management intensity of grasslands on drained organic soils

an average of 8,000 ha per annum of newly planted forest between 2021-2030

A 50% energy efficiency target for the Public Sector by 2030

600,000 heat pumps installed over the period 2021-2030

One third of commercial (including mixed use) buildings to have a B BER (or carbon equivalent gains) by 2030

500,000 homes retrofitted to a B2 Building Energy Rating or cost optimal equivalent by 2030

Onshore wind capacity of up to 8.2 GW by 2030

Up to 1.5 GW of grid scale solar energy by 2030

At least 3.5 GW of offshore renewable energy by 2030

70% renewable electricity generation by 2030

34% share of renewable energy in energy consumption by 2030

Reduce emissions from sectors 
outside the EU's Emissions 
Trading System by 30% 
(relative to 2005 levels) by 
2030

annual 7% GHG emission reduction between 2021 and 2030

50% improved energy efficiency of public sector buildings by 2030

30% CO2 eq reduction for public sector by 2030

Provide for 90% collection of plastic drinks containers by 2029

Recycle 55% of plastic packaging waste by 2030

Reduce diversion of municipal waste to 10% by 2035

Limit diversion of biodegradable municipal waste to landfill to maximum limit of 427k tonnes by 2020

16.5-18.5 MtCO2eq. cumulative abatement by 2030 in agriculture, land use and forestry sector

10% biofuels for petrol and 12% for diesel

40-45% emission reductions by transport sector by 2030 relative to pre-NDP projections

40-45% emission reduction from built environment by 2030 relative to pre-NDP projections

10-15% emission reductions from ETS industry by 2030 relative to 2030 projections

15% of electricity demand by renewable sources contracted under Corporate PPAs

70% renewable electricity production by 2030

phase out of coal- & peat-fired electricity generation

50-55% emission reduction from electricity sector by 2030

20% GHG emission reduction by 2020 relative to 2005

26.8 MtCO2eq. abatement through LULUCF actions over the period 2021 to 2030

51% GHG emission reduction by 2030 relative to 2018

The first two carbon budgets proposed by the Advisory Council shall provide for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions such that the total amount of annual greenhouse gas emissions in the year ending on 31 December 2030 is 51 per cent less than the annual greenhouse gas emissions reported for the year ending on 31 December 2018, as set out in the national greenhouse gas emissions inventory prepared by the Agency&nbsp;

Targets to retrofit 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2 and to install 400,000 heat pumps in existing buildings over the next 10 years&nbsp;

Achieving at least 32.5% improvement in energy efficiency by 2030.

To increase electricity generated from renewable sources to 70%.

To achieve a 34% share of renewable energy in energy consumption by 2030.

To reduce emissions from sectors outside the EU's Emissions Trading System by 30% compared to 2005.



In order to reduce GHG emissions by 80-95% by 2050, fossil fuels would account for 19-30% of energy demand in Ireland by 2020 compared with a 2015 baseline

80-95% cut in GHG emissions by 2050 compared with a 1990 baseline

(GHG) emissions from the energy sector will be reduced by between 80% and 95%, compared to 1990 levels, by 2050, and will fall to zero or below by 2100 by 2050, 2100 against a 2015 baseline

33% energy efficiency improvement in public sector by 2020 against a 2009 baseline

20% energy efficiency improvement (31,925 GWh saved energy) by 2020 against a 2009 baseline

16% renewable of total energy consumed by 2020

Ireland's 2020 renewable energy target is to increase the share of national energy consumption made up of renewable energy sources (RES) to 16%. This target is broken into three key sectors with individual targets for each sector: 40% of electricity supply (RES-E), 12% of heating (RES-H), and 10% of transport (RES-T) by 2020 against a 2015 baseline

10% transport energy from renewable by 2020

Friends of the Irish Environment [FIE] has lodged a Judicial Review of a proposed LNG’s 600 MW gas power plant and battery storage system in Co Kerry. The challenge is based on EU law, climate science, and Ireland’s breaching of its Sectoral Emissions obligations.

In the proceedings FIE cites what they allege are critical failures in the Environmental Impact Statement submitted by the developer which include a description of the methods used to assess the climate impact. They argue that (a) these methods underestimate the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that will be released by the plant and (b) even if the developer’s emissions calculations are accepted, this single PowerStation would account for on its own 1/3rd of all budgeted emissions from the entire electricity sector in 2030 - which in turn raises questions about the extent to which the national planning authority  [An Bord Pleanala]  can explain how this could possibly be compliant with the relevant national carbon budgets and sectorial emissions ceilings, in a manner consistent with the authorities functions in relation to the proposed development in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 15 of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 (as amended).

Leave to pursue judicial review has been granted by the Irish High Court.

In May of 2025, Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) filed for judicial review of the proposed 600 megawatt Shannon LNG power plant before the High Court of Ireland. The plaintiff alleges that the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) produced by the developer contains “critical failures.” These insufficiencies center around inaccurate climate impact assessments, as the FIE contends that the EIS significantly underestimates the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions, upstream and downstream emissions, and methane leakage associated with the project. 

The complaint specifically alleges that the project does not comply with EU taxonomy criteria for sustainable activities, specifically with lifecycle emissions thresholds pursuant to the EU’s sustainable finance regulations. Based on the flawed EIS, FIE claims that permitting the project breaches obligations under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act of 2021 and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive. Proceedings occurred in late May of 2025, and a judgment from the High Court is now pending. 

Meanwhile, in 2025, Shannon LNG reactivated and submitted a broader application for the entire Shannon Technology and Energy Park, with a decision expected in September of 2025.

At the beginning of 2025, a group of landowners, farmers, and campaigners under the name the Alternative A5 Alliance (AA5A) filed for judicial review to challenge the Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure’s (DfI) decision to continue the A5 dual carriageway project. The challenge was filed under Article 67BA of the Roads (Northern Ireland) Order 1993. The major infrastructure project was aimed at improving the A5 route between Derry and Aughnacloy, which has been a lasting safety concern, resulting in numerous civilian deaths. 

The plaintiff alleged that the DfI’s decision failed to comply with Section 52 of the Climate Change (Northern Ireland) Act 2022. This section mandates public authorities to have regard and act in accordance with the legally binding Climate Action Plan, which was not in place at the time the DfI decided to proceed with the project. On these grounds, the plaintiff contends that DfI did not have a proper legal framework to ensure it was complying with Ireland’s climate targets, specifically an emissions reduction cap. 

The plaintiff also contended that the defendant failed to take into account a critical relevant consideration, or a recently updated Climate Action Plan, when it approved the plan. The plaintiff also alleged that the DfI acted unlawfully by disregarding the Planning Appeals Commission’s recommendation of imposing a time limit for the project’s development, representing a breach in procedural fairness. The plaintiff contended that the lack of a time limit caused uncertainty for the landowners and residents near the project, failing to comply with Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right to respect for private and family life. 

The court issued a judgment stating that the DfI acted unlawfully by making a decision inconsistent with Section 52 of the Climate Change (Northern Ireland) Act 2022. The court also stated that the DfI ignored a critical relevant consideration as it proceeded without an updated Climate Action Plan and that DfI violated the principles of procedural fairness when prolonging uncertainty for landowners and residents. The court also ruled that the time limit violations constituted a human rights violation, and ultimately quashed the DfI’s decision to proceed with the project. 


Friends of the Irish Environment have lodged an appeal against a decision by Ireland's planning authority (a quasi-judicial body) to grant approval for a multi-billion-euro data centre complex in Ireland. The plaintiff argues that the project could jeopardise Ireland’s climate targets and undermine international and EU law. The complaint primarily relies on Ireland's domestic climate legislation, EU law concerning environmental impact assessments, and the ICJ Advisory Opinion on Climate Change. 



Geography

Ireland

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