In 2020, the coalition Government committed, as part of its final programme for Government, to an average 7% per annum reduction in overall greenhouse gas(GHG) emissions from 2021 to 2030 and to achieving net zero emissions in Ireland by 2050. The Covid-19 crisis and its direct impacts on economic activity, has resulted in a 6% reduction in GHG emissions in 2020 compared to 2019 levels with the majority of this drop driven by the transport sector whose declines were due to highly restricted travel. This reduction in GHG emissions, while very welcome, brings into focus the challenge that we face in achieving our targets for 2030 and beyond.
Our 2021 conference, which will be held virtually over three-days from Tuesday 27th April to Thursday 29th April, will be a timely opportunity to assess the next steps to achieve these targets in the context of the early stages of the Covid-19 vaccination programmes in Ireland and the Irish Government’s approval for the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill.
Keynote contributions from
- William Walsh, CEO at SEAI
- Marie Donnelly, Chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council
- Marion Jammet, Head of Policy and Advocacy at Irish Green Building Council
In addition, we will have talks and breakout sessions from our own IERC researchers, networking opportunities and panel sessions with experts from government, industry and academia, will provide opportunities to explore and evaluate priorities for policy, research and innovation in the energy sector to enable the decarbonisation of the Irish economy.
In order to participate in this interactive event please register here.