The 2018 ‘Off Target’ report by Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe* highlights Ireland as the second worst performing country after Poland in relation to climate change, both in terms of national action and support for greater ambition at EU level. CAN Europe assessed both the role that Member States play in setting ambitious EU climate and energy targets and policies, and what progress they are making in reducing polluting emissions and promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency at home.

Ireland’s poor position stems from dismal progress on 2020 climate and renewable energy targets, rising emissions from the transport and agriculture sectors, the absence of effective policies, and a failure to support greater ambition in EU 2030 climate and energy legislation. The report does welcome the innovative deliberative process of the Citizens' Assembly and recommends that the Irish government now radically revise is climate action plan (the National Mitigation Plan) on the basis of the Assembly' proposals on climate change.

Jennifer Higgins, Policy and Advocacy Advisor at Christian Aid, stated:

‘Despite the welcome recognition by the Taoiseach in January of  Ireland's position as a climate ‘laggard’, and commitments to change this, 6 months on it appears Ireland’s reputation when it comes to climate action is stagnating, not improving. This dismal ranking highlights the inadequacies of current policies and plans to fulfil our fair share of the global effort to deliver on the Paris Agreement. It should be a clear signal to government to rapidly remedy this by revising the current National Mitigation Plan.’

Phil Kearney, Chair of the Climate Change Committee of An Taisce, stated

‘It is extremely concerning to see Ireland again labelled as a laggard in terms of domestic and EU climate action. Not only is Ireland falling behind its EU counterparts due to the failure to decrease polluting emissions, the Government has continued to trumpet supposed exceptionalism and push for loopholes in EU legislation which serves to undermine EU-wide progress on climate change. The report by Climate Action Network highlights the urgent need for Ireland urgently implement the recent Citizens’ Assembly proposals and increase ambition in accordance with Paris Agreement commitments.’

The report shows that several Member States are failing to advocate for sufficiently ambitious EU climate and energy targets and policies, and too many are lagging behind in reducing polluting emissions at the level needed to implement the Paris Agreement. Estonia (24%), Ireland (21%) and Poland (16%) rank lowest because of inaction on climate change domestically and opposition to greater ambition at EU level. The five EU countries that score the highest are Sweden (77%), Portugal (66%), France (65%), the Netherlands (58%) and Luxembourg (56%), thanks to the fact that they are advocating for more ambitious climate targets at EU level. Aside from this group, the majority of Member States scores less than half of the possible points, which shows they are not progressing fast enough towards the Paris Agreement goals.

ENDS

The report. ‘Off target: Ranking of EU countries’ ambition and progress in fighting climate change’ is available to download here: http://www.caneurope.org/docman/climate-energy-targets/3357-off-target-ranking-of-eu-countries-ambition-and-progress-in-fighting-climate-change/file

*Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe is Europe’s leading NGO coalition fighting dangerous climate change. With over 150 member organisations from 35 European countries, representing over 1.700 NGOs and more than 40 million citizens, CAN Europe promotes sustainable climate, energy and development policies throughout Europe.

Notes for the Editor

1. Stop Climate Chaos is the civil society coalition campaigning for Ireland to do its fair share to tackle climate change. The Coalition’s 33 members include overseas aid and development, environmental, youth and faith-based organisations. https://www.stopclimatechaos.ie/about/
   
   
2. Ireland is the third highest producer of emissions per person in the EU, and eighth in the OECD with polluting emissions increasing by 3.7% in 2015. Ireland is one of seven EU Member States which is set to miss its 2020 emission reduction targets under the EU Effort Sharing Decision. Ireland is also the only one of these seven States where emissions are predicted to continue to rise. See analysis from European Environment Agency here
   
   
3. In May 2018 the Environmental Protection Agency emphasised the need to urgently move away from fossil fuels. The EPA’s latest projections show that Ireland’s total polluting emissions will increase from current levels to 2020. This is despite an EU target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent on 2005 levels from the non-Emissions Trading Scheme (non-ETS) sector – agriculture, transport, residential, commercial, non-energy intensive industry and waste. Their projections show that, at best, Ireland will only achieve a one per cent reduction by 2020 compared to the 20 per cent reduction target. http://www.epa.ie/newsandevents/news/name,64049,en.html
   
   
4. The 13 recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly on climate change are available at https://www.citizensassembly.ie/en/How-the-State-can-make-Ireland-a-leader-in-tackling-climate-change/Recommendations/  
   
   
5. Last year, the Climate Change Performance Index noted Ireland as being the worst performing country in Europe for action on climate change. The Index placed Ireland 49th out of 56 countries. - https://germanwatch.org/en/14639  
   
   
6. Ireland has pushed for the inclusion of several loopholes in EU legislation currently under negotiation concerning reductions in polluting emissions to be made by Member States between 2021 and 2030. Ireland’s reputation among EU partners has suffered as the Irish Government has repeatedly called for less demanding obligations rather than planning on how to meet them, thereby undermining rather than supporting EU collective action on climate change. See Editorial by the Times here (final section). See articles by the Irish Times, the Irish Examiner, two articles by Politico (here and here), as well as Climate Change News.