Four of Government’s Six Climate Targets Hit in Q1

The Irish government has published the Quarter 1 Progress Report for the 2025 Climate Action Plan (CAP25), outlining progress on climate measures due for delivery in the first three months of the year.

While the report highlights encouraging trends, including falling emissions and some timely action delivery, it also acknowledges persistent delays in legacy measures from previous plans.

Of the six new actions due for completion in Q1 2025, four were delivered on time. In addition, 10 out of 64 legacy actions – measures carried over from Climate Action Plans 2023 and 2024 – were completed in the first quarter. The report tracks key performance indicators across six major emissions sectors: Agriculture, Transport, Electricity, Buildings, Industry, and Land Use/Forestry.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin welcomed the findings, pointing to the continued decline in Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions. “We now have lower overall emissions than at any point in the last 35 years, despite population growth and economic expansion,” he said. “Change is underway, but we must move faster and do more.”

Tánaiste Simon Harris echoed the urgency, citing recent extreme weather events in Europe as reminders of the immediate threat posed by climate change. “Ireland will work with our EU partners to tackle emissions and protect the most vulnerable,” he said.

Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment and Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien, delivering his first progress update since taking office, acknowledged both momentum and remaining challenges. “This is the third consecutive year of falling emissions, but the pace of delivery must increase,” he said. A new high-level Programme Board has been established to address implementation delays and will report directly to the Climate Action Delivery Board, now chaired by Minister O’Brien.

The Q1 report also sets the groundwork for CAP26, the next iteration of the Climate Action Plan, which is currently under development. It will focus on “accelerated delivery and meaningful impact,” according to officials.

The full Q1 2025 Progress Report is available at: www.gov.ie/climateaction.