EPA’s Emissions Projections will likely point to need for climate policies to be ambitious & fairer
Published: Wednesday, May 28, 2025
In advance of the publication of the EPA’s latest greenhouse emissions projections, Feminist Communities for Climate Justice (FCCJ), a joint project by the National Women’s Council (NWC) and Community Work Ireland (CWI), today (27th May 2025) expressed its concern that Ireland is not on track to meeting legally binding climate targets for 2030. This time last year, the EPA reported that if all the actionable climate-related policies on the Government’s Climate Action were implemented, the best-case scenario would be a 29% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 - far short of the 51% target that is required under national and EU law.
Project Lead for the FCCJ Sadhbh O’ Neill said:
“It is highly likely, based on recent reports from the SEAI[ii] which found a reduction of just 1.3% in Ireland’s energy related emissions last year, that Ireland’s climate pollution will not have significantly changed since last year’s Emission Projections. This means that the government will still be facing into a significant emissions gap to 2030. Much more ambitious and urgent action will be required to reduce Ireland’s climate impact and to ensure that climate policies phase out fossil fuel use and at the same time address social inequalities and marginalisation. At the moment, most climate policies favour home-owners for example, such as retrofitting or EV charging grants. Renters do not benefit from climate policies and are often living in the poorest quality accommodation.”
“Based on recent emissions trends, Ireland is still way off course. Getting back on track will require a huge political commitment, and it means putting socially just climate policies at the centre of all government policies. We in the FCCJ project do not consider it fair that energy prices continue to rise for householders[iii] for example, while more data centres are being connected to the grid, driving up both costs and emissions[iv]. Research conducted for our project has found that women bear the brunt of climate change impacts which exacerbates pre-existing inequalities. Failing to meet our climate targets means that women will continue to experience higher levels of energy and transport poverty. On the other hand, climate policies are an opportunity to invest in the care economy and to improve public services in ways that target the most disadvantaged in society.”
“The first significant test this government will face is the revised National Development Plan in July, which should prioritise all government spending in areas that reduce fossil fuel use and deliver clean, secure and affordable energy, transport and heating services for all. Transport emissions are particularly challenging but many householders are living in transport poverty, with limited access to public transport and high car ownership costs. We want to see the government prioritise spending on mobility services that benefit everyone equally, such as public transport, rail investment, Local Link rural bus services and the fast-tracking of BusConnects and active travel projects.”
“Meeting our legally binding carbon emissions reductions targets by 2030 and 2050 will require a transformation of Ireland’s economy and public services. With under five years remaining before we hit 2030, we will need focused measures to phase out fossil fuel use across the power generation, heating and transport sectors and scale up renewables and electrification. On the land use side, we want to see incentives for farmers to diversify, care for and restore climate-and biodiversity-friendly land uses, farm practices and food production. What is needed is a whole-of-society transformation but it must be both fast, and fair.”