CLIMATE OF FAILURE ON GREEN TARGETS..

IRELAND is falling behind on its ambitious climate goals, with a new report from the Joint Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy warning of major obstacles across key sectors.

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The country aims to cut emissions by 51% by 2030 compared to 2018, but the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates reductions of just nine to 23% by the deadline.

The report highlights 30 barriers that could derail progress, including issues in electricity, agriculture, transport, business, and construction.

Here's a breakdown of the key challenges:

Electricity: The electricity sector is aiming for a 75% emissions cut by 2030, but the EPA predicts only 68% at best. The report points to outdated infrastructure, insufficient energy storage, and the rapid growth of data centres as major hurdles. Ports also lack the capacity to support offshore wind projects, adding to delays.