Electric cars and home retrofits: what you need to know about Ireland’s Climate Action Plan

The Climate Action Plan, designed to tackle 'climate breakdown', launched today.

Over 180 actions feature in a bid to see the country meet targets for climate change, with the hopes that this will result in a more sustainable future. Richard Bruton, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment said that "a rapid, transformative adjustment" is required with these new measures involving a life-changing journey. Some of the initiatives spoken about today include:

• Achieving 70 per cent of electricity from renewable sources by 2030. At the moment, that figure is just 30 percent.
• Eliminating non-recyclable, single-use plastic by the end of 2021 and imposing higher charges on materials that are difficult to recycle.
• Introducing an estimated 950,000 electric cars and establishing a nationwide charging network for these vehicles
• Legislation to ban the sale of petrol/diesel cars by 2030
• Expanding cycling and Park/Ride routes
• Introduction of a Microgeneration scheme to allow homeowners to generate their own electricity, selling what they do not use to the national grid
• 500,000 homes to be 'retrofitted' with the hope that this will reduce costs and make these abodes more energy efficient
• By 2022, installation of oil boilers in new homes will be banned followed by gas boilers in 2025 - a review on how this will come about will be conducted later this year
• Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by creating new and sustainable options for family farms

The government has launched the Climate Action Plan to tackle climate breakdown. This will be an important milestone in building a sustainable, resilient future, and making Ireland a leader in addressing climate change. #ClimatePlan2019 pic.twitter.com/L8rJsDOjrt

— dccae.gov.ie (@Dept_CCAE) June 17, 2019

Speaking today, Minister Bruton said:

"Every generation wants to leave the world in a better place than they found it for their children. We have a short window of opportunity to act. We must act now and leave a better, healthier, more sustainable Ireland for future generations. This Plan provides our way forward. "We are currently 85% dependent on fossil fuels. This Plan sets out radical reforms, which will cut our reliance on carbon, making our businesses more competitive, our homes more sustainable and our farms more efficient. We will be doing things in new, innovative ways. Most of the actions set out will actually save money in the long-run. We will now implement this Plan, rolling out the required actions through a sustained effort. "This is a life changing journey and it is a rapid, transformative adjustment that is required. Nothing less will do. We must all now take up the challenge."