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Chapter 2
Greenhouse Gases
and Climate Change
Ireland is on track to meet its Kyoto greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
target for the 2008–2012 period. This is a first step in achieving a
longer term goal of a low-emissions society and economy. The next
key step is to meet the emissions reductions required under the EU
Climate and Energy Package. Actions to address the 2020 challenge
in the package are informed by longer term 2050 emissions goals.
The European Commission Roadmap for moving to a competitive
low-carbon economy by 2050 points to EU-wide GHG emission
reduction requirements of up to 80% by 2050. Within the EU,
Ireland has an unusual emissions profile, with emissions from
agriculture being proportionally higher than for most other
Member States and projected to increase in the period to 2020.
This is in the context of an overall reduction target of 20% by
2020 (relative to 2005) for sectors that are not included in the EU
Emissions Trading Scheme, under the EU Commission’s Effort Sharing
Decision (ESD). Current analysis from the EPA suggests that Ireland
will exceed its annual limit under the ESD by 2017. Accordingly,
further cost-effective actions need to be identified, assessed,
adopted and implemented to reduce GHG emissions in the near-
term. Climate change impacts are projected to increase over the
coming decades. This reality must be factored into planning and
investment choices. The vulnerability of existing systems and
infrastructure must be assessed and the necessary measures, systems
and tools to enable management of these impacts put in place.
Overall, Ireland requires a long-term strategy and action in the near-
term to enable a successful transition to a low-emissions, climate-
resilient, sustainable economy.