Climate coalition calls for Govt action to cut emissions

The Stop Climate Chaos coalition, comprising over 40 environmental, civil society, and international development organizations, is urging the Irish government to introduce additional measures to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Recent projections from the Environmental Protection Agency suggest that Ireland is on track to reduce emissions by only around 25% by 2030, falling short of the 51% reduction mandated by its Climate Act.

This leaves a significant "emissions gap" between Ireland's current trajectory and the necessary reductions under its carbon budgets and 2030 target.

The coalition's new report, "Ending Fossil Power," urges Minister for Climate Darragh O'Brien to publish the delayed Climate Action Plan for 2026 without further delay. The plan must include significant new policies and measures to bring Ireland back onto a trajectory consistent with its statutory targets. The coalition criticizes recent legislative changes that it says weaken public bodies' obligations to act consistently with national climate policy.

Key areas requiring action, according to the report, include Ireland's continued dependence on fossil fuels, rapidly increasing electricity demand from data centers, and the role of the Irish financial sector in funding fossil fuel companies. The coalition particularly criticizes the government's decision to proceed with a €900 million State-owned liquefied natural gas terminal, arguing that it risks locking Ireland into continued fossil gas dependence.

Friends of the Earth suggests that the new Climate Action Plan should establish clear milestones and deadlines for reducing fossil fuel dependence while accelerating renewable electricity, energy storage, and demand reduction measures. The plan should also require public bodies to ensure their activities align with Ireland's climate obligations.

Additionally, the coalition seeks restrictions on the expansion of data centers, which currently account for over 20% of electricity consumption and are projected to consume nearly one-third by 2030. Oxfam Ireland calls for a moratorium on new data center connections until the electricity system is fully decarbonized.