Why Ireland?

Ireland has continually failed to meet its emissions targets, and in 2019 was ranked as the third highest emitter of greenhouse gases per capita in the EU.

The SEAI’s latest report found that just 11% of Ireland’s energy came from renewables in 2018, with fossil fuels accounting for the rest - and the situation is considerably worse in the transport industry, where oil-based products account for 97% of all energy consumed.

This creates vast emissions - both locally, and in the shipment of these fuels to Irleand, with major implications for our health and for biodiversity.

However, Ireland’s relatively small population offers the opportunity to adapt and react faster than many other countries.

Setting an example

For comparison, Sweden has a similar population size and density but generates less half the emissions that Ireland creates – it has also led the world in terms of electric vehicle adoption, with EVs accounting for 26% of all cars on the road.

This has been achieved in a relatively short space of time through government grants, and has followed the outstanding model put in place by Norway, which not only cut the cost of purchasing an EV, but also offered additional benefits such as free parking, VAT exemption and reduced fees on toll roads.

They are now seeking to ban all new sales of gas-powered cars by 2025. While Ireland has committed to ending the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030, this is too little, too late if we are to address the issue of climate change and lower our emissions before it irreversible damage takes place.

Better air, better environment

The Irish government is bound to reducing emissions to 20% below 2005 levels by 2020 – but is actually on course to increase them, which means the target of becoming carbon neutral by 2050 looks further in doubt. This will result in a hefty fine form the EU, as well as contributing to a climate crisis that will cost many millions of euros to negate each year – as well as increased climate events that will cause a surge in flooding and crop failures.

With more than 500,000 early deaths in Europe directly attributed to the emissions from road vehicles, increased adoption of electric vehicles – which do not emit any emissions – could help public health, as well as reducing our environmental impact.

Yet this can be reversed and quickly – and electric cars can play a key role in this.