Ireland has been ranked worst in Europe on climate action by UN experts for a second year in a row.
Some Irish moves were praised in the Climate Change Performance Index, launched at the UN Climate Conference in Katowice, Poland – but the country is still named as the worst performing country in Europe for action on climate change.
And, the report notes, existing efforts will not enable Ireland to achieve either its EU 2020 or 2030 emission reduction targets.
The verdict comes just one month after Environment Minister Richard Bruton announced a new ‘all of Government’ climate action plan which will set out obligations by Government Department with specific actions and timelines, modelled on the Action Plan for Jobs.
The Government is not committed however to reducing the national herd, with cows responsible for up to 30pc of Ireland’s emission of warming gases.
Minister Bruton, who is due to travel to the Katowice conference this week, offered no immediate comment to the rating, nut he has previously admitted that Ireland is ’95pc off target.’
Labour party leader Brendan Howlin however branded the findings ‘shameful.’
He said: ‘Not only are we the lowest ranked member of the EU, but Ireland is the only European country in the fifth and bottom category of countries, which are the least likely to live up to their responsibilities.’