Ireland is at a pivotal point in its path to climate neutrality, and placing fairness and inclusion at the centre of climate policymaking is essential to build public support and realise the benefits of the transition. The document highlights the intensifying climate crisis—2024 was among the warmest years—and stresses the urgency of cutting emissions and strengthening resilience. While CAP25 commits to a 51% emissions reduction by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050 and notes some progress (a 7% emissions fall in 2023, wind supplying about 40% of electricity, and roughly 1,000 home retrofits weekly), current projections remain well short of targets: the EPA projects only a 23% cut by 2030, and existing-measures scenarios predict still lower reductions.
Failing to meet targets risks serious financial costs and long-term societal and environmental consequences, with disproportionate effects on the most vulnerable, particularly amid rising living costs. The report frames this gap as both a warning and an opportunity: Ireland must accelerate action through bold, society-wide transformation that embeds just-transition principles—equitable cost-sharing, protection for vulnerable communities, investment in skills and accessibility—to ensure climate policies lift people up rather than leave them behind.