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Government plans to have one million electric vehicles on roads by 2030
The Government Climate Action plan – to be published today – will aim to have almost one million electric vehicles in operation in Ireland by 2030.
The plan going to Cabinet this morning seeks to chart a course for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 51% by the end of the decade.
It will identify the public service as a driver of change and all new vehicles purchased by the State from the end of next year will have to be electric where possible.
It also envisages that there will be half a million more daily journeys completed by either walking, cycling or on public transport by 2030.
The final document will set a greenhouse gas emission reduction target for agriculture within a range of 22% to 30%.
Emissions from energy must reduce by 62% to 81% while a fall in greenhouse gas emissions from businesses has been set within a band of 29% to 41%.
A large grant-aided retrofitting scheme for homes will be central to reducing emissions from housing by between 44% and 56% over the period.
It is likely that people will be able to apply for retrofitting grants from next January and a large apprenticeship scheme to train people to do this work is likely to be announced soon.
The transport sector is aiming to cut emission by between 42% and 51%.
The plan is also likely to have a strong focus on public dialogue and a Just Transition Commission is likely to be established.
The Minister for Climate Action has described the Climate Action Plan as one of the most ambitious plans in the world.
Speaking on his way into Cabinet, where ministers will sign off on the plan, Eamon Ryan said that the country is showing leadership on climate and is well placed to tackle it.
The action plan does not set out particular investment decisions and this was deliberate, he told reporters.
Minister Ryan said the plan contains around 1,000 measures.
The Taoiseach told a meeting of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party last night that the planet is “in trouble” and science is telling us that we must act now.
Micheál Martin said there would be key focus on areas such as micro generation, offshore renewables and sustainable transport.
The Government must incentivise farmers, Mr Martin said, and partner with them in the area of climate action.
He added that enabling communities to bid for funding on community climate action has to be part of the response.
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