Election 2024 - Sustainability

This edition of our Election 2024 Spotlight series examines things a new Government can do to put sustainability at the heart of policy making.

Sustainability

The present situation - a snapshot of some key issues

Climate and Sustainability

• Ireland missed its 2030 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions targets.  Achieving our 2030 targets remains extremely challenging despite recent progress. 
• Ireland’s GHG emissions continue to increase in line with economic activity.  Despite an encouraging reduction in GHG emissions of 6.8 per cent in 2023, almost two third of the carbon budget for the period 2021-2025 has already been used. GHG emissions reductions of more than 8 per cent per annum for the next two years are required to stay within budget.
• Agriculture accounts for the largest proportion of GHG emissions (more than one third), and we have one of the highest levels of emissions from agriculture in the EU. 
• Transport accounts for the second largest proportion of GHG emissions. While ongoing increasing in the transport fleet are partially offset by electric vehicles and biofuels, overall transport trends present challenges.
• The energy sector has seen the largest reduction in emissions in recent years, largely driven by increases in imported energy, reductions in coal, oil and peat used in electricity generation and an increase in the share of renewable energy.
• We are failing in the necessary planning, services and infrastructure to ensure communities, towns and villages across all regions can adapt to changes that required to move to a more sustainable future.

How can we put sustainability at the core of all Government policy?

• Ensure that all development is socially, economically and environmentally sustainable.

Things a new Government can do to put sustainability at heart of policymaking

• Fully resource the policies required to implement our 2030 climate targets.
• Integrate climate adaptation into the annual budgetary process.
• Adopt targets and a reporting system for each of the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Introduce shadow national accounts and assign value to natural capital and ecosystems in national accounts.
• Introduce a circular economy strategy for Ireland.
• Develop a comprehensive mitigation and transition programme to support communities and people in the transition to a low carbon society.
• Develop a progressive and equitable environmental taxation system.
• Review all fossil fuel subsidies and environmentally harmful tax expenditures annually with a view to removing those that do not align with our national climate goals.
• Develop a National Retrofitting Plan incorporating a Building Renovation Passport Scheme.
• Pilot a Farm Sustainability Passport Programme to support sustainable land management and agricultural practices. 
• Develop a Just Transition Dialogue structure at regional and national level.