The EU Commission has pledged to increase the EU-wide greenhouse gas emissions target to at least 55% by 2030.

The Minister for Communications Climate Action and Environment Eamon Ryan TD welcomed the announcement.

He said: "The Programme for Government sets out the Government's commitment to an average 7% per annum reduction in overall gre

enhouse gas emissions from 2021 to 2030 (a 51% reduction over the decade) and to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. The Climate Action (Amendment) Bill is being drafted as a priority, and is expected to be published shortly. The Bill will significantly strengthen the statutory framework for governance of the climate challenge in Ireland, establish a 2050 target into law and introduce a legal requirement for Government to adopt a successive series of three economy-wide carbon budgets and decarbonisation ranges for each relevant sector. By working in partnership with the EU we can achieve the radical transformation required across our economy and society to meet the challenge of climate change."