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Ministers set to sign off on major new climate plan

The Climate Action Plan will set out how the Government plans to more than halve emissions by 2030.
Sean Defoe
Sean Defoe

06.26 4 Nov 2021


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Ministers set to sign off on m...

Ministers set to sign off on major new climate plan

Sean Defoe
Sean Defoe

06.26 4 Nov 2021


Share this article


Cabinet ministers will sign off on sectoral emissions targets for each Government Department this morning.

It's expected the biggest focus will be on agriculture, transport and home retrofitting.

Last week's carbon budgets set out Ireland's targets up to 2030 - reduce emissions by 4.8% a year out to 2025, and by more than 8% a year after that.

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However, the challenge has always been around how those reductions will be achieved.

This morning Cabinet will approve sectoral emissions targets under the Climate Action Plan, covering all parts of the economy.

It will set out how the Government plans to more than halve emissions by 2030.

The three biggest areas of focus are likely to be agriculture, transport and the retrofit of homes - all of which need to be addressed if there's to be a serious effort at limiting global warming.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said every sector will need to play its part in reducing emissions.

It's believed the agriculture sector will be asked to cut its emissions by up to 30% over the next ten years.

However, it's reported even larger carbon reduction targets will be set out for the energy and transport sectors.

Junior Agriculture Minister, Martin Haydon, is reassuring farmers a reduction in the national herd isn't being considered.

Speaking on Breakfast Briefing, he said: "We're not talking about reducing the herd or such crude measures, but to do a science-based approach and the small measures that will get us there.

"The road we have to travel is extremely challenging and very ambitious - there is no sector of society getting a free pass here.

"But I think the targets that will be set for agriculture will be in line with the commitments we gave in the programme for government, which was about identifying the unique economic and social role agriculture plays."

He said the ambition is high, but the climate crisis requires an ambitious approach.

Rent cap

Also on today's Cabinet agenda is a new 2% cap on rent increases in Rent Pressure Zones.

Minister Darragh O'Brien changed the rules earlier this year to link increases to inflation.

However, with inflation soaring, the Minister is now moving to change that.

The new system will keep rents linked to inflation, but capped at 2%.

The Department has also confirmed a report on Mica redress has been delayed until at least the week after next.

Additional reporting by Stephen McNeice
Main image: File photo. Photo: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

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