The Climate Action Plan 2019 – A Sector By Sector Guide

On Monday 17 June, the Government published its Climate Action Plan 2019, which sets out its proposed policy measures for addressing the threat of climate change in Ireland.

The combined Environmental & Planning and Energy & Natural Resources teams at A&L Goodbody have analysed the legal and commercial impacts of the  Climate Action Plan for businesses in Ireland. We have prepared a short summary of the Climate Action Plan's effects on a number of key sectors.

Please click the links below for further information on each sector. 

  • Climate Action Plan: Agriculture, Forestry and Land Use
  • Climate Action Plan 2019: Construction and Housing
  • Climate Action Plan 2019: Data Centres
  • Climate Action Plan: Electricity & Renewables
  • Climate Action Plan: Enterprise
  • Climate Action Plan 2019: Offshore Wind
  • Climate Action Plan: Transport
  • Climate Action Plan Waste & the Circular Economy

The Climate Action Plan sets out the measures by which Ireland can reduce its emissions from sectors outside the EU's Emissions Trading System by 30% (relative to 2005 levels) by 2030.

The Climate Action Plan, which will be monitored quarterly and updated annually, sets out a number of ambitious environmental targets for Ireland to meet over the next 40 years. Most actions proposed are for implementation before 2030. This includes a move from 30% to 70% renewable energy by 2030 and the delivery of 950,000 electric cars by 2030. The 180+ actions contained in the Climate Action Plan also seek to:

  • Introduce five year carbon budgets
  • Implement a carbon rate of at least €80 per tonne by 2030
  • Reduce Ireland's reliance on fossil fuels by phasing out coal and peat burning plants
  • Reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill to 10% of all waste by 2035
  • Ban specific single use plastics and ensure all plastic packaging is reusable or recyclable by 2030
  • Reduce food waste by 50% by 2030; and
  • Phase out the installation of oil and gas boilers in new houses by 2022 and 2025 respectively.

In order to set up a governance structure to ensure the proper implementation of environmental measures against climate change, the Climate Action Plan provides for the establishment of several new institutions:

  • A Climate Action Delivery Board, under the Department of the Taoiseach, to report to Cabinet on the Climate Action Plan's implementation
  • A Just Transition Review Group within the National Economic and Social Council, to advise on the needs of groups who may be specially disadvantaged in the transition from fossil fuels
  • A Climate Action Council to recommend appropriate carbon budgets, monitor emissions reduction progress and evaluate Government policy; and
  • A Climate Action Office within the Oireachtas to provide independent advice to Parliament on climate issues.

Public bodies will be obliged to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings by 50%, adopt a Climate Action Mandate and adopt a near zero carbon investment strategy. The Climate Action Plan envisages environmental change being implemented by citizens, businesses and public bodies and will bring with it a range of challenges and opportunities.

For more information contact Alan Roberts, Alison Fanagan, Jason Milne, John Dallas, Ross Moore or any member of the Environmental & Planning or Energy, Infrastructure & Natural Resources teams.

Date published: 17 July 2019