New climate plan forces faster action on wind and solar

Ireland’s latest Climate Action Plan introduces a bold shift, requiring every region to host its share of wind and solar projects, limiting the power of local objections that have stalled half of all proposals. Councils must now actively enable renewable growth, with new quotas pushing through planning resistance.

While the plan aims to accelerate emissions cuts, all sectors are set to overshoot their carbon budgets. Even the electricity sector, once a climate standout, is falling short. With legally binding targets looming for 2030, pressure is mounting for more aggressive, enforceable measures.

From forced wind farm extensions to a roadmap for phasing out fossil fuel boilers, the plan reflects urgency, but critics warn it still pulls punches on key issues like agriculture and fossil-fuelled transport.

As the countdown to 2030 intensifies, will government ambition finally match the scale of the challenge?

Read the full article for a deeper look into what’s changing and what it means for sustainable business leadership.