Ireland’s reputation with multinational companies faces “serious consequences” if the State does not meet international climate change obligations, Ministers were warned in a private briefing. Herd figures would not be cut “provided we implement all of the mitigation actions identified early”, the briefing said. The 2030 targets are even stricter and require Ireland to cut emissions by 30 per cent of 2005 levels. The Government’s ambitious climate action plan was launched in June and included increasing carbon taxes, targets to push electric vehicle (EV) sales, and widespread retrofitting of homes. The 31-page briefing document was set out in a question and answer format pointing to the areas of the climate plan where officials feared Ministers might have to respond to criticism.

Source: The Irish Times October 31, 2019 01:30 UTC