Climate Change Advisory Council Ireland

The Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, invites expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced persons for appointment as a member of the Climate Change Advisory Council. The candidate booklet is available here shorturl.at/T6j4G

Ireland has lagged behind in transposing EU directives and EU energy directives, in particular, into Irish law. With the Irish EU Presidency in 2026, this poses real geopolitical and reputational risks.

Read the full report here: shorturl.at/EVCus

In 2024, Ireland spent €4.7bn on fossil fuel subsidies. It is imperative that all fossil fuel subsidies are removed as part of the decarbonisation of Ireland’s energy system. A comprehensive review of national energy taxation and fossil fuel subsidy structures, is required.
shorturl.at/EVCus

Should Ireland fail to meet its EU emission targets the costs of complying with obligations will be in the range of €8–26 billion. This could instead be invested in homes, communities & businesses.
Read the Council's cross sectoral review here: shorturl.at/EVCus

The latest projections and inventories from @epaireland.bsky.social show Ireland remains off course to meet 2030 EU and national emission targets. Emissions are falling - but nowhere near fast enough.
Read the final chapter in the Council's 2025 Annual Review at shorturl.at/EVCus

The Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, invites expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced persons for appointment as a member of the Climate Change Advisory Council. The candidate booklet is available here shorturl.at/T6j4G

Council has published its final Annual Review 2025 chapter today, warning that Ireland remains substantially off-track to meet its EU and national emissions reduction targets for 2030.
Read the full report here: shorturl.at/EVCus

Yesterday the @ccacireland.bsky.social and the @centralbankireland.bsky.social launched a joint report on "Funding Climate Adaptation in Ireland". Collaborations such as these help highlight mutual areas of interest in not just identifying barriers but offering potential solutions. Read more below ⬇️

@lwhitmarsh.bsky.social, University of Bath gave a fascinating keynote at the Council’s Behavioural Change and Climate Action event today on the importance of behavioural change in informing climate mitigation and adaptation policy.

Only 14.4% of Ireland's land area and less than 10% of its marine area are under formal protection. This is far short of the target of a minimum of 30% by 2030, set by the global biodiversity framework.
shorturl.at/WbGtM

Council continues to be concerned about the limited capacity in @npwsireland.bsky.social and across Government to coordinate and upscale biodiversity conservation and restoration initiatives. This manifests itself in delayed implementation of key policy actions.
📑: shorturl.at/V7fRG

Priority ecosystems continue to be degraded. It is estimated that only 25% of Ireland’s peatlands are healthy enough to provide ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration and freshwater filtration and support restoration efforts.

Read more📑: shorturl.at/V7fRG

Council welcomes the establishment of the Independent Advisory Committee, leader’s forums, community conversations and working groups to develop the National Restoration Plan. There must be adequate consultation and resourcing to implement this plan.

Read more: shorturl.at/yrxmD

The Council has called on Government to issue national guidance and enact regulations to better integrate biodiversity into planning. It’s Annual Review of Biodiversity has been published today with key observations and policy recommendations.

Read more: shorturl.at/yrxmD

Council has published its Annual Review of Biodiversity. It has called out the growing risk to biodiversity and ecosystems from the increased impacts of climate change and warned that Ireland is falling far short of its international conservation commitments.
Read more📑: shorturl.at/Lnco9

Council in its Adaptation Review has recommended that Government establish an Extreme Weather Assistance Scheme before the 2025/26 storm season and ensure that it is permanent, appropriately resourced.
Read more at shorturl.at/LogZL

Council has recommended that Government provide annual, defined funding to make climate action roles in local authorities and CAROs permanent.

This will ensure expertise is retained and climate resilience measures can be delivered.
Read more at shorturl.at/LogZL

To ensure improved preparation by local authorities for extreme weather events, the Council has recommended the resourcing of local emergency response hubs and the promotion of individual preparedness measures.

Read more at shorturl.at/LogZL

The first Sectoral Adaptation Plans were not specific and measurable, and most did not have KPIs or milestones. There is a critical need for measurable action in the next plans.

Read more at shorturl.at/LogZL

Systemic external challenges such as funding and temporary contracts are a critical risk to local authorities delivering their Climate Action Plans. This must be urgently addressed by central Government.

Read more about Adaptation in our Annual Review at shorturl.at/LogZL

Storms Darragh and Éowyn, have exposed Ireland’s vulnerability to extreme weather events and shortcomings in preparedness and response, especially in relation to critical infrastructure.

Read more in our Review: shorturl.at/LogZL

The Climate Change Adaptation Scorecard helps monitor and review progress towards climate resilience over the last 12 months.
Four sectors demonstrated good overall progress, while biodiversity received an overall rating of no progress.
Scorecard Report: shorturl.at/s111P

The Council’s Annual Review of Adaptation has been published today with key observations and policy recommendations published to help Ireland deal with the impacts of future climate change.
Read the full report here: shorturl.at/LogZL

Council has said not enough action has been undertaken to address the significant shortcomings exposed by Storms Darragh and Éowyn and it has called for the prioritisation of actions that will have the most impact in advance of the storm season
Read more: shorturl.at/1nqea

To support the decarbonisation of the cement and concrete industries, the Council recommends that the National Standards Authority of Ireland’s Concrete Committee urgently develop new standards and accelerate the approval process for low-carbon cement technologies.
Read more: shorturl.at/i54k9

The Council recommends establishing a network of independent energy renovation advisors to provide practical support to households and communities, particularly those in energy poverty.
Read our recommendations for this sector: shorturl.at/i54k9

Today the Council has published a request for quotation for research services to explore integrating climate change risks and uncertainty in infrastructure development to ensure a climate resilient Ireland. For more information see: www.climatecouncil.ie/news/researc...

A clear policy and roadmap by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment for the decarbonisation of commercial buildings is urgently required in 2025.
Read our recommendations on the Built Environment, Industry and Waste sectors here: shorturl.at/i54k9

Council supports the ramp up of the Solar PV for the Medically Vulnerable Scheme and calls for the installation of suitable batteries, to support the needs of the medically vulnerable, and guidance on changeover switches, to support resilience during extreme weather events. Report: shorturl.at/i54k9

Industrial emissions fell by an estimated 4.6% in 2024, driven partly by reduced cement production and a fall in manufacturing industry output.

Cement industry emissions decreased by 15.6% in 2024 because of lower production levels.

Read more: shorturl.at/i54k9