This Government is committed to delivering on Ireland’s responsibility to address the climate crisis and work remains ongoing across Government Departments to carry out climate mitigation efforts every day. In addition, the rollout of retrofitting, renewable energy deployment, and more affordable electric vehicles continues at pace.
Ireland now has the lowest level of GHG emissions in 35 years, which is notable given concurrent demographic and economic growth including an increase of approximately 1.5 million people, more than one million new homes and over one million extra vehicles on our roads.
We are making significant strides toward our target of 80% renewable energy by 2030 and we are now prioritising the development of offshore wind capacity. This 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. The 2025 ZEVI target for electrical vehicle sales of 195,000 was surpassed in October 2025. I have just announced an unprecedented package of new and enhanced grants for homeowners across the country who are looking to benefit from home energy upgrades under the National Residential Retrofit Plan.
Regarding the publication of the Climate Action Plan 2026, the Joint Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy has undertaken detailed scrutiny on the Climate Change Advisory Council’s proposals for the second Carbon Budget programme. Due to delays in the formation of new Oireachtas Committees in 2025, the work of the Joint Committee, and the delivery of its report, took place later than expected.
This Report, delivered in October of last year, outlines 38 comprehensive recommendations spanning multiple sectors extending beyond the budget proposals themselves. The Committee’s report will need to be carefully considered before any further proposals are brought to Government.
The carbon budgets have very significant implications for our economy and society. They need to be considered in the context of ensuring that affordability, competitiveness and energy security are paramount.
This process necessarily delays the completion of the next Climate Action Plan so that the plan can address the full Carbon Budget Programme. Work is underway on the plan, however, in anticipation of the outcome of the Carbon Budget process, with a view to bringing a draft to Government later this year.
The upcoming plan is intended to be a more targeted one, focusing on strategic, realistic, high-impact actions to be delivered over the course of the budget programme rather than annual actions, with short-term horizons. I have also emphasised the importance of focusing on delivery both of existing and planned actions and the Government supports this approach, including the new governance structures such as Climate Action Plan Programme Board and the reconstituted Climate Action Delivery Board.
In the interim, Climate Action Plan 2025, in tandem with its predecessor, Climate Action Plan 2024, remains in place and provides a strong framework for continued delivery of climate action across all sectors, as many of its commitments are multi annual in nature. Work remains ongoing across Government Departments to deliver on these commitments and carry out climate mitigation efforts every day.
