Climate change: State’s new action plan will stand or fall on public’s buy-in

The government’s strategy to tackle climate change has caused much debate in political circles, with opinion split on the viability of various targets. Can it gain public support?

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Eamon Ryan, the Green Party leader: the trio launched government’s Climate Action Plan 2021 last week. Picture: Julien Behal

The key meeting to sign off on the €125 billion Climate Action Plan took place in Government Buildings last Wednesday afternoon.

There had been intense discussions in advance about the most politically sensitive section: the emissions cuts that Irish farmers would have to achieve.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Eamon Ryan, the Green Party leader, were there for the meeting of the cabinet sub-committee on climate change, as was Charlie McConalogue, the Minister ...