The Role of Ireland in EU’s Climate Change Policies

Ireland’s role in the European Union’s climate policies has been a subject of growing importance in recent years. However, the feasibility of achieving decarbonisation while maintaining economic growth remains highly questionable—particularly given the EU’s resistance to nuclear energy. Despite efforts to reduce carbon emissions and expand renewable energy, Ireland’s agricultural sector, fossil fuel dependency, and housing inefficiencies present significant obstacles that cannot be easily overcome. Furthermore, carbon taxes, often touted as a solution, may do more harm than good by burdening ordinary citizens and businesses without delivering meaningful reductions in emissions.

This article explores Ireland’s role in the EU’s climate change policies, the significant limitations of its current approach, and the difficult trade-offs that policymakers continue to ignore.

EU Climate Change Policies and Ireland’s Commitments

The EU has positioned itself as a global leader in climate action, with ambitious targets under the European Green Deal and the Fit for 55 package, which aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. However, these targets often appear more aspirational than realistic, particularly for a country like Ireland that lacks a nuclear energy sector and relies heavily on agriculture and transport.

Ireland’s key commitments under EU climate policies include:

• Achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 under the European Climate Law.
• Cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by over 50% by 2030.
• Expanding renewable energy to 80% of electricity production by 2030.
• Phasing out peat and coal-based power generation in favour of wind and solar energy.

Despite these commitments, Ireland has consistently struggled with meeting EU-imposed emission reduction targets. The overreliance on intermittent renewables such as wind power raises serious concerns about grid stability and energy security, particularly without nuclear as a baseload power source.

Successes in Ireland’s Climate Efforts – But At What Cost?

Renewable Energy Expansion

Ireland has increased its reliance on wind energy, with over 40% of its electricity generated from wind power. However, the lack of consistent baseload generation means that reliance on imported gas remains high, and periods of low wind output continue to pose major challenges. The government’s insistence on ruling out nuclear energy forces Ireland into a precarious situation where energy costs remain volatile and grid reliability is increasingly at risk.

Carbon Tax: A Burden on the Public?

Ireland was among the first EU nations to introduce a carbon tax in 2010, progressively increasing it to €41 per tonne in 2024, with plans to reach €100 per tonne by 2030. While policymakers claim this tax incentivizes greener choices, in reality, it places an undue burden on households and businesses already struggling with high energy costs. Carbon taxes disproportionately affect lower-income individuals while having little impact on large polluters who can simply absorb the costs or pass them on to consumers.

Legislative Advancements with Uncertain Outcomes

The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act (2021) provides a legally binding framework for Ireland’s climate policies, but its effectiveness remains debatable. Without nuclear energy or major technological breakthroughs, it is unclear how Ireland will meet these legally binding emissions targets without either crippling its economy or offshoring emissions to other countries.

Ireland’s Climate Challenges in the EU Context

Agriculture and Methane Emissions: A Problem Without a Solution?

One of the biggest challenges for Ireland is its agriculture sector, which accounts for nearly 38% of total national emissions, primarily due to methane from livestock. Despite calls for reducing national cattle herds, this is politically and economically unfeasible, given Ireland’s economic dependence on dairy and beef exports.

Proposed solutions include:

• Reducing national cattle herds—an unrealistic and economically devastating approach.
• Encouraging the adoption of sustainable farming techniques, though these remain largely unproven at scale.
• Promoting afforestation and soil carbon sequestration, but these measures alone cannot offset the emissions from a sector that forms the backbone of the Irish economy.

Transport and Fossil Fuel Dependency: No Easy Fix

Ireland’s transport sector remains heavily dependent on fossil fuels, contributing around 20% of national emissions. Unlike many European counterparts, Ireland has been slow to adopt public transportation solutions due to poor infrastructure investment and dispersed rural populations. The push for widespread electric vehicle (EV) adoption faces numerous barriers, including the high cost of EVs, inadequate charging networks, and the reliance on electricity that is still generated from fossil fuels.

Housing and Energy Inefficiency: Unrealistic Expectations?

Ireland’s inefficient housing stock is a well-known issue, but retrofitting homes is a slow and costly process. While the government has introduced retrofit grant schemes, the scale of retrofitting required is staggering, and many homeowners simply cannot afford the necessary upgrades. Without nuclear or other reliable energy sources, Ireland’s grid remains vulnerable, and energy prices are unlikely to fall in the near future.

Ireland’s Role in Shaping EU Climate Policy: An Exercise in Futility?

As a member state, Ireland does not merely follow EU climate policies—it actively influences them. However, given its economic structure and geographic realities, Ireland often finds itself advocating for:

• Flexibility in agriculture emissions targets, but with limited success.
• Increased funding for renewable energy projects, though without nuclear, this remains an incomplete solution.
• A just transition framework to ensure that rural and agricultural communities are not disproportionately affected, though many question whether this is achievable.

While Ireland supports carbon border taxes, which aim to prevent carbon leakage from high-emission imports, such measures are unlikely to offset the broader issues caused by an unbalanced decarbonisation strategy that excludes nuclear energy.

Future Outlook: Is Ireland’s Climate Strategy Sustainable?

With the EU intensifying its push toward climate neutrality, Ireland faces an increasingly difficult path forward. Several fundamental issues remain unresolved:

a. Scaling Up Renewable Energy—But Without a Backup Plan

Ireland’s ambitious offshore wind expansion plans may offer some relief, but the lack of a reliable baseload source of power means that energy security remains in jeopardy. Unless nuclear is reconsidered, Ireland will continue relying on fossil fuels for backup, undermining its climate goals.

b. Agriculture: A Sector in Crisis?

Calls to reduce agricultural emissions without a viable alternative risk harming Ireland’s rural economy while failing to deliver meaningful climate benefits. The assumption that new technologies will provide solutions in time is far from certain.

c. Carbon Tax: More Harm Than Good?

If carbon taxes continue to rise, the economic burden on households and businesses may become unsustainable. Rather than forcing costs onto consumers, policymakers should consider alternative approaches, such as incentivizing nuclear investment or technological innovation in carbon capture.

Ireland’s role in the EU’s climate change policies is fraught with contradictions. While the government has committed to ambitious emissions reduction targets, its rejection of nuclear energy, reliance on inefficient carbon taxes, and unrealistic agricultural policies make achieving these goals highly improbable without severe economic consequences.

Without major policy shifts, Ireland may find itself in the worst of both worlds—failing to meet EU climate targets while simultaneously imposing crippling costs on its economy. It is time for a more pragmatic and technologically diverse approach to climate policy.