The changes aim to cut carbon emissions significantly by 2030.
Eamon Ryan has said that the proposed carbon budgets by the Climate Change Advisory Council will "require fundamental changes to Irish life" in order to successfully implement.
The new budgets are part of a roadmap that was planned as part of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 that was signed into law in July of 2021.
The initial plan is for CO2 levels to fall at a rate of 4.8% on average for the next five years, and then to increase these cuts to 8.3% on average between 2026 and 2030.
This plan would hypothetically reduce Ireland's carbon emissions by more than half by 2030, with the aim to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
In a statement published by Government, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications shared the belief that these new cuts would result in a significant impact on people's lifestyles.
"When we passed the Climate Act in July we embedded the process of carbon budgeting into law," Ryan said.
"The Act also strengthened the role of the Climate Change Advisory Council, to empower this independent body to do this important work, based on the most up-to-date climate science.
"These first carbon budgets are a significant milestone in our efforts to tackle climate change."
His sentiment was shared by Marie Donnelly, chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council as the proposals were submitted to the Minister earlier this week.
“The proposed carbon budgets will have an impact on society and the economy but allows us to act on climate change in a planned and organised way... Many of the changes required now will only have a real impact on emissions in the second period", Donnelly said.
"Now is the time to put policies and supports in place that will help those people, communities and businesses that will be impacted by the significant changes we need to make to how we live, work and travel.”
Featured Image via Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie
