Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The EPA has projected that Ireland is on course to reduce emissions by 29% by 2030. However, if all the unmodelled actions and as yet unallocated emission savings in the climate action plan are included, then the EPA's projected emissions reduction would be 42%. While projections show that emissions are expected to decrease in almost all sectors, it is clear that Ireland has work to do to meet our challenges and legally binding emissions targets. Change is now under way across our economy and society to realign ourselves to a low-carbon future. Reducing emissions is now at the heart of our policies and sectors. It is essential that we quickly translate our high-level goals and plans to meaningful actions on the ground.

We need to implement fully the actions of the Climate Action Plan 2023 and strengthen additional measures needed to reach our targets. I can confirm to the Deputies that of course we intend to meet our 51% reduction target by 2030. Rather than treating industry as enemies, we are engaging with industry. It is interesting to meet firms like Diageo, for example, in the brewing sector, and Lilly in the pharmaceutical sector, to see how ambitious and feasible their plans to meet net zero are, because they know it is in their economic interest to do so.

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