Ireland second-worst in EU on climate change action
Ireland is the second-worst performing EU member state in tackling climate change, both in terms of national action and support for greater ambition, according to Europe’s largest NGO coalition working on climate and energy issues.
The 2018 Off Target report published on Monday by Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe, which is supported by the European Commission, concludes all EU member states are falling short in adopting the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and in pursuing efforts to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees.
CAN, however, reserves most criticism for Ireland, along with many central and eastern European countries, because of “stiff opposition” to climate actions. Without new, immediate and substantive efforts to cut emissions, it warns Ireland “faces annual non-compliance costs of around €500 million”.
It assessed and rated the role member states play in setting ambitious EU climate and energy targets and policies, and what progress they are making in reducing emissions and promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency at home.
HM Cotterill