According to a fresh analysis unveiled during the COP29 climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, the international standing of Ireland in terms of climate performance has seen a marked improvement over the last year.
This comprehensive study evaluated 63 nations, representing a staggering 90% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
With a hefty leap of 14 spots, Ireland now sits in 29th place, marking its highest ranking to date.
This achievement indicates that, for the first time, the Republic has now reached the status of a medium performer in terms of climate action.
Nonetheless, it’s notable that Ireland’s effectiveness concerning greenhouse gas emissions is still deemed insufficient.
Holding the top position for the fourth consecutive year, Denmark leads the index, followed by the Netherlands, the UK, the Philippines, and Morocco.
In stark contrast, the United States finds itself languishing in 57th position within this international climate performance framework.
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Political rifts have emerged as a hindrance – Ryan
The report highlights significant divisions within the outgoing coalition government and suggests an evident reluctance to act decisively on climate matters ahead of the impending General Election.
While addressing the gathering in Baku, Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan called out his coalition partners, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, for resisting initiatives aimed at alleviating traffic congestion and minimizing transport-related emissions.
This ranking originates from Germanwatch—an environmental organization that has spent two decades assessing and ranking countries’ efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as outlined in the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement.
The overarching goal of this agreement is to limit the rise in global average temperature to well below 2°C over pre-industrial levels and ideally curb it to 1.5°C.
Credit: The Climate Change Performance Index
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Officials from Germanwatch have voiced concerns that the United States could slide even further down the rankings, particularly following Donald Trump’s rise to the presidency.
Trump has proclaimed intentions to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement, raising alarm bells globally.
At the bottom of the ranking, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Iran, all major oil producers, are noted as clear climate underperformers.
The Germanwatch report advocates for a pause on the development of data centers in Ireland.
‘Evident unwillingness to act’ persists
The report acknowledges Ireland’s implementation of legally binding five-year carbon budgets, alongside emissions ceilings per sector, and the establishment of a legislative framework for revising climate action plans annually.
Yet, despite these advancements, the actual execution of climate policies remains a stumbling block.
Latest projections from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicated that while 2023 witnessed a notable decrease in greenhouse gas emissions in Ireland, sluggish progress suggests that the nation is unlikely to meet its upcoming carbon budget for 2026–2030.
Germanwatch pointed out the tensions within the outgoing government, stressing a clear hesitancy to take substantial action during this crucial time.
Acknowledging the report’s findings, Eamon Ryan expressed that they serve as a crucial warning. He stated that when times get tough, the “so-called tough” often cave, allowing political science to overshadow climate science—foreboding significant implications for the Irish populace.
On the upside, the report commends the remarkable doubling of Ireland’s solar power capacity within just one year, largely driven by an influx of utility-scale solar projects and a boom in domestic rooftop installations.
Ryan boasted that not only has Ireland made strides, but it has also “vaulted” up 14 places, shedding its previous image as a climate laggard.
He welcomed the acknowledgment of progress made in solar energy, which he remarked is the result of “a rooftop revolution.”
“We’re on the path to renewables,” he said, “but we absolutely need to accelerate our shift away from fossil fuels. There’s no time to waste.”
Ryan emphasized that only the Green Party is fully committed to driving Ireland’s climate agenda forward.
Credit: The Climate Change Performance Index
The report further underscored the pressing necessity to develop new port infrastructures to support offshore wind projects and to enhance the electricity grid for large-scale electrification of heating and transportation.
Furthermore, it warns that Ireland continues to rely heavily on fossil fuels and called for an immediate reinstatement of a permanent ban on LNG terminals, a moratorium on new data centers, and a reevaluation of the legal obligations for government entities in line with climate commitments.
When looking at an international scale, the report highlights Ireland as a commendable player in climate finance, focusing notably on the new Loss and Damage Fund established at COP28 in Dubai last year.
While the overall climate finance disbursed by Ireland remains modest, it boasts high-quality aid, primarily delivered through grants rather than loans.
To read the full report, it’s accessible here.
Fossil fuel advocates are still persistent
At the COP29 climate summit, OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais proclaimed that both crude oil and natural gas were “a gift from God,” suggesting that the dialogues around global warming should concentrate on emission reductions instead of choosing energy sources.
His comments came as numerous global leaders convened in Azerbaijan to work on a comprehensive finance agreement aimed at aiding countries in reducing emissions while adapting to climate change.
“Indeed, they are a divine gift,” Al Ghais, a seasoned Kuwaiti oil executive, remarked during his address. “They influence food production, medical research, and the distribution of medical supplies. The list goes on.”
These sentiments were mirrored by Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, who defended his nation’s oil and gas industry against Western criticism, also dubbing those resources a “gift from God.”
Al Ghais insisted that nations could achieve their climate objectives without turning their back on petroleum, reiterating OPEC’s stance that technologies such as carbon capture can mitigate the effects of fossil fuel combustion.
Mohamed Hamel, Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, added that as the global population expands and economies develop, there will be an increasing demand for natural gas rather than a decline.
He expressed hope that COP29 would yield a finance agreement supporting natural gas projects to assist countries in transitioning from more polluting fuels like coal.
“The outcomes of COP29 should pave the way for financing cleaner technologies and the development of natural gas projects,” he stated. “This is essential for ensuring inclusive energy transitions that don’t leave anyone behind.”
Scientists have cautioned that if current trends persist, the world is poised to exceed the critical 1.5C threshold as early as the 2030s, if not earlier.
According to the 2024 UN Emissions Gap report, our trajectory suggests a potential increase of up to 3.1C in temperature by century’s end.
Additional reporting contributed by Reuters.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
