1. Ireland in 2050: A Low Carbon Future
A Greenhouse Gas Neutral Ireland by 2050
Gemma O’Reilly
Climate Change Research November 14th, 2012
Programme

2. Outline
 Existing Irish Goals & Targets
 The Imperative for Action
 80% reduction by 2050
 The Role of Landuse
 A GHG neutral Ireland
 Climate Finance Challenges
 The Green Economy
 Connecting the Dots

3. Existing Irish Goals and Targets
2020 Mitigation Latest EPA projections suggest a cumulative shortfall
Targets of 2-20Mt CO2e up to 2020
Longterm Low
At least an 80% reduction in GHGs from 1990 levels by
Carbon
2050 (EU, 2009)
Transition
Under the UNFCCC, Ireland is commited with other
2020 Climate
developed countries to jointly mobilise $100bn by 2020
Finance Targets
from a variety of sources

4. The Imperative for Action

5. EU analysis

6. An 80% Reduction by 2050

7. Estimated Potential Role of Landuse
10
Forest Pre-1990
Forest since 1990
5
Sources
Managed Peat/wetland
0
Unmanaged Degraded
Current 2050 Peat/Wetland
Sinks Cropland
-5
Grazing Land Mgmt; organic soils
-10 Rough Grazing Land Mgmt;
mineral soils
Improved Grazing Land Mgmt;
mineral soils
-15

8. A GHG Neutral Ireland by 2050
120%
100%
Landuse
80% Waste
Energy
60% Residential
Industry &
40% Commercial
20%
0%
2010 2050
-20%

9. Climate Finance Challenges
 Ireland as a member of the EU, voluntarily pledged up to
€100m over the period 2010-2013, as part of an EU and
developed country voluntary commitment
 In 2010, developed countries under the UNFCCC committed
to a goal of jointly mobilising $100bn p.a. by 2020 from a
variety of sources; public, private, innovative

10. The Green Economy
2020 Mitigation Use efforts towards the 2020 goal to contribute to
Targets longer term low carbon and green economy objectives
Longterm Low Use long term ambition to drive development of Irish
Carbon expertise in climate products and services, and to
Transition underpin green branding of Irish produce
Recognise the €100bn commitment as a large new
2020 Climate
market for climate products and services, providing
Finance Targets
impetus to green economy goals

11. Connecting the Dots
 Turn challenges into opportunities
 Green economy strategy should be linked to;
 Early efforts
 Long term ambition
 Climate finance strategy
 Mitigation ambition should be linked to;
 Green branding
 Attracting FDI
 Selling Irish climate products and services

12. Questions Welcome
Email: g.oreilly@epa.ie