Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions rose by 4.7% last year, a new Environmental Protection Agency report has revealed.

This report has sparked a call for more urgent action to address the climate emergency nationwide.

Speaking about the new report, Labour Leader Ivana Bacik TD said: "Even when compared with the pre-pandemic period of 2019 when the economy was operating at full capacity, there has been an increase. This is the opposite direction of travel to what we need to see.

"Clearly, more needs to be done to meet our legal and moral obligations to the planet. This week has seen record-high temperatures causing fire and drought across Europe. Notwithstanding those climate warning signs, in addition to this report – which is only the latest in a series of similarly concerning reports – the Government is still struggling to agree a path forward to meet our 51% emissions reduction plan for 2030.

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"This is an era of serious politics. Media debates and reports from anonymous TDs in the press indicate that the two largest parties in Government are not prepared to do what is necessary to protect humanity from the worst effects of climate change. The Government needs to ensure a Just Transition to support communities who will have to do the most to facilitate the change we need. It must also treat the sectoral emissions targets and carbon budgets with the seriousness needed; negotiations have already been delayed considerably and there is simply no time to delay."