Ireland is expected to fail 'significantly' to meet legally binding emissions cuts set out to fight climate change.
The Environmental Protection Agency revealed its worrying analysis in a second report on the government’s planned climate policies.
Their Greenhouse Gas emissions projections from 2022 to 2040 found, even if the country meets all promised measures, a reduction of just 29 per cent will be delivered against a 51 per cent target by 2030.
READ MORE - Experts warn climate crisis could make Ireland colder and heighten storm surge risk
EPA director general, Laura Burke, said: "Ireland will miss its 2030 climate targets unless all sectors of the economy deliver emission reductions in the short term and sustain this delivery into the future.
"We’re in the third year of the first Carbon Budget period, with only seven more years left to 2030.
"A continued lack of delivery of large-scale practical actions to decarbonise activities in all sectors will see us exceed our carbon budgets."
The EPA found every sector of the economy, except residential buildings, is heading towards exceeding emissions caps for 2025 and 2030.
This includes agriculture, electricity and transport.
Environment watchdog, the EPA, says agricultural emissions are expected to fall between 4 and 20 per cent, against a target of 25 per cent by 2030.
Transport emissions are projected to fall just 35 per cent, despite its 50 per cent target, with road freight expected to be the big source of transport emissions by 2030.
Electricity, which has a 75 per cent reduction target, is predicted to cut its emissions by around 60 per cent (energy).
The EPA also highlighted how harvesting the country’s commercial forests up to 2030, will turn them from a carbon sink into carbon sources - causing the Land Use, Land Use Change and forestry sector to rise.
EPA senior manager, Stephen Treacy, said: "These projections show that strong economic growth and associated energy demand are eroding the increased ambition in the 2023 Climate Action Plan.
"This underlines the urgency of moving to an economy and society powered by renewable energy sources.
"The longer we wait, the longer it will be before we realise the benefits as the time horizon for achievement of national and EU commitments is getting ever shorter."
Chair of the Climate Advisory Council, Marie Donnelly, warned last August how the numbers ‘don’t add up’ when it comes to sectoral emissions ceilings.
She called on the government to come up with a "really detailed action plan" to close the gap.
The EPA is now also urging them to "fully implement" all measures in the 2023 Climate Action Plan and firm up actions that don’t have any associated policies or measures.
This includes the diversification of the country’s agricultural sector.
Ms Burke added: "Ireland needs to grasp the nettle of climate action so it can realise the significant opportunities and social and economic co-benefits for people, communities and business that can be delivered through innovation and decarbonisation."
READ NEXT:
- Updated Amy Fitzpatrick documentary in Spain reveals new claims about her disappearance as lawyer speaks out
- Gerry Hutch stays away from restaurant where he was arrested but staff say he's welcome: 'We don't judge'
- RTE star Marty Morrissey expressed interest in hosting Late Late before Patrick Kielty landed job
- Thousands of renters in Ireland missing out on €1,000 windfall amid astonishing low tax credits update
- Mack Hansen gets Andy Farrell tattoo after Grand Slam promise
Get news updates direct to your inbox by signing up to our daily newsletter here
