The national climate change strategy includes a commitment to phase in carbon taxes from 2002, end coal-fired energy generation, cut agricultural emissions and participate in EU and international emissions trading. Central to his strategy is a plan to introduce revenue-neutral carbon taxation across a broad range of sectors, including transport. Virtually all of this should be achieved by closing Ireland's single coal-fired power station or converting it to natural gas by 2008. Transport is called on to cut 2.67m tonnes of CO2 equivalent. Achievement of this target will depend on a swathe of measures ranging from EU-led improvements in vehicle fuel efficiency and energy labelling for new cars to planned changes to road tax and increased use of public transport.
Agriculture remains Ireland's single largest emitter of greenhouse gases.
It is scheduled to cut 2.41m tonnes of CO2 equivalent. Lower methane emissions will be achieved primarily through reducing livestock numbers, while changes to fertiliser use should bring reductions in nitrous oxide emissions. Better energy efficiency should help cut 2m tonnes of CO2 equivalent in the industrial and commercial sector, the plan says. Tighter energy efficiency regulations for buildings will fuel emission cuts by the construction industry and at household level. Increased use of energy recovery by the waste industry is predicted as is increased forest cover on farmland.