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ARTICLE · 02 AUGUST 2021

Ireland Enacts Ambitious Climate Law

Arthur Cox
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The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 has been signed into law committing the State to 2030 and 2050 targets for reducing greenhouse gas ("GHG") emissions...

IrelandEnvironment
Arthur Cox
Arthur Cox
Karen Killoran
Karen Killoran
Danielle Conaghan
Danielle Conaghan
Niamh McGovern
Niamh McGovern
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Katrina Donnelly
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The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 has been signed into law committing the State to 2030 and 2050 targets for reducing greenhouse gas ("GHG") emissions and providing the governance framework by which this is to be realised.

The Act follows through on Ireland's increasingly ambitious commitments in the area of climate action, apparent in the Programme for Government and 2019 Climate Action Plan. This is not Ireland's first climate law, but it significantly amends and strengthens the earlier Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act of 2015.

Bold Emissions Reduction Targets

2050 target (known as the National Climate Objective)

The Act binds Ireland to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.  The key provision is that the "State shall ... pursue and achieve, by no later than the end of 2050, the transition to a climate resilient, biodiversity rich, environmentally sustainable and climate neutral economy". Climate neutral

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This article contains a general summary of developments and is not a complete or definitive statement of the law. Specific legal advice should be obtained where appropriate.

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