EPA - Ireland's Environment, An Integrated Assessment - 2020

Chapter 2: Climate Change 8. Conclusions Climate Impacts Climate change has been described as the defining challenge of our age. In line with global trends, Ireland is experiencing temperature increases of about 0.8°C (compared with 1900). Recent national-scale extreme weather events demonstrate Ireland’s vulnerability to such events, with the resilience of our infrastructure and economy severely tested. Projections indicate that climate change will continue and intensify over the coming decades. The Climate Challenge In Ireland, GHG emissions are coupled to economic activity, with little sign of decoupling. Rapid and deep cuts to GHG emissions are essential to avoid the most dangerous impacts of climate change but we still need to respond to the known expected impacts. The scale of the climate challenge for Ireland is significant but, as a wealthy country with significant capital, innovation and technological resources, it is well placed to address the transformation required. Advances have already been made in some sectors, such as penetration of renewables in power generation. However, the transition needs to be deepened and speeded up in other sectors, such as transport, the built environment and agriculture. The transition will spur growth in new sectors. Further investment in industrial modernisation, energy transformation, the circular economy, clean mobility, green and blue infrastructure and the bioeconomy will create new, local, high-quality employment opportunities. Ireland must be positioned to capitalise on these opportunities. Transformative Change Nevertheless, making the transformation towards a climate-neutral economy and climate neutrality by 2050 is not just about technologies and jobs. A number of sectors, businesses and individuals will find the transition challenging. Therefore, the ensuing deep decarbonisation process will have to be managed well, ensuring a fair and socially acceptable transition for all in the spirit of inclusiveness and solidarity. This is about people, communities, businesses and regions. Moving towards a climate-neutral and resilient economy and society can be successful only when people understand the changes needed, are engaged and experience it as beneficial for their lives. Ireland’s Climate Actions and Ambitions The 2019 Climate Action Plan sets a course for meaningful action in Ireland that is aligned with EU and international commitments and ambitions. This must now be backed up with strong measures to deliver on these commitments, including targeted financing. It is now time to build on the momentum and engagement that is evident across the public, communities and businesses. The transition to a climate-neutral, climate-resilient society requires an integrated response ensuring fairness and a just transition for all. It must be planned and managed to underpin both systemic change – to enable low- carbon technologies and practices to flourish – and also behavioural change, to enable individuals, communities, businesses and organisations to play their part. The main conclusions from this assessment of climate change issues are that: n Ireland’s climate is changing. We have already experienced warming of approximately 0.8°C since 1900. n Disruption from extreme weather events demonstrates the vulnerability of Ireland’s infrastructure and economy. To build the resilience of society and the economy requires planned adaptation to current and future impacts of climate change. n Ireland must play its part in the global effort to achieve rapid and deep cuts to emissions to avoid the most dangerous impacts of climate change. n GHG projections from the EPA indicate that full implementation of policies and measures identified by the government, including the Climate Action Plan, can deliver on Ireland’s commitments for 2030 and is compatible with moving towards the longer term ambition of achieving net zero emissions by 2050 (DCCAE, 2019a). n The longer we delay in reducing our GHG emissions, the greater the effort and costs. Ireland’s current high dependency on fossil fuels is particularly challenging. n Implementation will be critical and the pace of emissions reduction must accelerate beyond 2030. This requires far-reaching transformative change across the economy and society. n Public awareness, engagement and behavioural change are crucial to achieving the transition. n COVID-19 has taught us that while the dramatic decline in economic activity and travel may have resulted in a reduction in greenhouse gases in the short term, long-term improvements can only be achieved with targeted climate and environmental actions that change consumption and production systems in a sustainable and lasting manner n The transition must be equitable and just. 57