Ireland is the fifth highest emitter per capita of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) in the world, and the second highest in the EU, with each citizen responsible for emitting 17 tonnes of GHG equivalents per annum, up from 15 tonnes per annum in 1990. Ireland’s climate change policy is bound by international agreements into which it has entered and by climate legislation implemented at EU level. Ireland’s emissions were 25.5% above 1990 levels in 2006, or almost 13% above its Kyoto target.

In the so-called 'Energy and Climate Package', published in January 2007 by the European Commission, which was later approved by European leaders at the Spring European Council in March 2007, the EU committed itself to a 30% emissions reduction target by 2020 compared to 1990 levels “provided other developed countries commit themselves to comparable emissions reductions”; a “firm independent commitment” to achieve “at least” a 20% reduction by 2020 based on 1990. The European Parliament is currently considering this package. The Commission’s climate change package, if adopted, will have a profound impact on Irish climate change policy in the post-2012 period. The Irish economy would be divided into two for the counting of emissions: the tradable and non-tradable sectors.

The Irish tradable sector covered by the Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) covers approximately 34% of Irish emissions. It covers activities which involve large emissions from one instillation such as: energy, cement production and metal processing. Companies such as ESB, Irish Cement, Aughinish and Glanbia all have instillations operating under the emissions trading scheme. Under the Commission’s proposals the aggregate reduction faced by the tradable sector across the EU would be 21%, or 1.74% per annum. Emissions will occur where they are cheapest across the EU because companies can buy permits from other companies who reduce their emissions at least cost, and thus the cost to Irish industry covered by the EU ETS would be capped at the EU marginal cost of abatement. The inclusion of aviation into the scheme is currently proposed. As per the European Effort Sharing policy, government policy will be focused on the Irish domestic sector – agriculture, transport, commercial and services and light industry – which account for 66% of overall Irish emissions. The largest two of these are responsible for 70% of domestic sector GHG emissions: agriculture (41%) and transport (29%). Emissions from these two sectors are projected to rise to 2020.

Under the EU’s proposals the domestic sector would collectively be bound to reduce emissions by at least 20%, and up to 30%, on 2005 levels by 2020. Although less onerous than either the government’s own target of a 3% annual emissions reduction if extrapolated to 2020, this is an enormous challenge for Ireland. There are few cheap abatement options available. It is difficult to see how this target can be met in Ireland without a restructuring of the Irish economy and in the absence of very significant behavioral change. A major review of Irish climate change policy is therefore required as a priority if the EU’s package is passes by the European Council and the European Parliament.

In Ireland, other stakeholders are active in the field of climate change.

Ireland counts 13 MEPs from 4 consistuencies: Dublin North, East, North West and South. 3 of them are members of the ENVI and/or CLIM Committee of the European Parliament.