The EPA's most recent inventory report, Ireland's Provisional Greenhouse Gas Emissions 1990-2024, published in July 2025 shows that that Ireland has recorded overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions for a third consecutive year, and now has the lowest level of GHG emissions in 35 years.
This is significant in the context of demographic and economic growth over that period, including an increase of approximately 1.5 million people, more than one million new homes and over one million extra vehicles on our roads.
Our momentum in emissions reductions reflects the progress we are making to deliver key measures across sectors, for example:
• The 2025 target for electric vehicles sales of 195,000 was surpassed in October 2025;
• The milestone of over 2 gigawatts of installed solar capacity was achieved in November last year;
• The very positive results of the offshore wind auction for the Tonn Nua site in the same month, which will produce enough energy to power almost one million homes; and,
• Government has approved an unprecedented investment of €18.9 billion in Grid for the period 2026 – 2030 which is fundamental to the electrification of homes, businesses and transport.
However, as Minister, while recognising the progress made and the future investment commitments, I must also be cognisant that the current projections serve to highlight the urgent need to build on this momentum. To address the gap to target, we will need to significantly accelerate the delivery of Climate Action Plan measures across sectors.
A number of cross-departmental taskforces are driving delivery in renewable energy and heat, retrofit, transport and agriculture, including the Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce and the Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce. In September of last year, the Taoiseach and I announced the establishment of an Offshore Wind Energy Clearing House, to reinforce the work of the existing Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce, especially where issues require an additional high-level intervention from the centre of Government.
In line with our Programme for Government commitment, enhanced implementation governance arrangements, to support these groups accelerate delivery, have been put in place in 2025 to streamline structures, ensure key strategic projects are supported and that corrective action is taken quickly where delivery is at risk.
I now chair the Climate Action Delivery Board (CADB) which met late last year. The Climate Action Programme Board (CAPPB) has also been established to provide co-ordinated oversight and strategic direction on the delivery of the Climate Action Plan. It met regularly last year. The Programme Board encompasses the chairs of climate delivery taskforces from across sectors to bring an overall cohesion and alignment to climate action, and to provide oversight and support to taskforces in delivering their work programmes. It assesses progress on delivery, monitors risks, and considers the requirement for corrective actions for underperforming or at-risk actions and deliverables as set out in the Climate Action Plan.
It is vital that we continue to focus on the delivery of our highest impact climate measures to achieve the mitigation needed to achieve our climate goals, moving towards focussed and targeted action.
In my recent statement I made reference to the fact that Ireland is currently projected by the EPA to miss its 2030 emissions reduction target of 51% (compared to 2018 emissions). The EPA's latest report from last May, projected an overall emissions reduction of 23% by 2030. While the EPA have identified a gap to our 2030 target, is important to note that these are projections based on current data and trends. This Government is working to close that gap.
