There’s been mixed reaction within the agriculture, construction and transport sectors locally to the government’s newly launched Climate Action Plan.
The 125 billion euro plan launched yesterday aims to halve Ireland’s emissions by the end of the decade.
The plan sets out a range of targets for sectors of the economy including electricity, transport, agriculture, industry, buildings and forestry.
They’re set in ranges – for example 22-30 per cent for agriculture, the lowest range of cuts, or 62 to 81 per cent for the energy sector.
The latest range of environmental measures has been welcomed by the construction industry, with aims to retrofit half a million homes within the next nine years.
Ronan O’Brien, Southern Region Executive with the Construction Industry Federation, says these targets will sustain local employment for the next decade.
The Clare secretary of Macra na Feirme is disappointed that the role of young farmers in achieving our climate targets wasn’t included in the latest document from the government.
The agriculture sector is required to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by between 22-30% set out through 40 actions including lowering the slaughter age, increasing the amount of land that’s farmed organically and reducing use of chemical nitrogen.
Doonbeg farmer Liam Hanrahan says young farmers want to be part of the change
An Ennis haulier insists the industry wants to go green but have no option but to rely on diesel.
For the transport sector, the Climate Action Plan aims to reduce emissions by 42-50% and also aims to have almost a million electric vehicles on the road by the end of the decade.
Eugene Drennan, who is also the president of the Irish Road Haulage Association, says they are willing to invest in more environmentally friendly vehichles but would need incentives from the government to do so.
Eugene insists they need confirmation that their investment will be secured.
