Making Ireland's energy transition fair and inclusive

The clean energy transition

The world’s climate is changing rapidly, 2023 was the warmest year since records began in 1850. Human behaviour is causing the climate to change. Warmer air holds more moisture leading to more rain. 2023 was a year of excess rainfall as a result of climate change. The burning of fossil fuels is the main driver of climate change.

Changes to our weather systems have catastrophic consequences. Costs to the natural world include drought, wildfires, floods and rising sea levels. These all have dreadful effects on biodiversity and human wellbeing.

To slow global warming, GHG emissions need to reach net zero worldwide. Ireland’s climate action plan sets targets for Ireland to be net zero by 2050. To achieve this, we must transform how we think about, generate and use energy now.

Our energy system is shifting from high emission sources (fossil fuels like gas and oil) to low emission sources (renewables like wind and solar). The clean energy transition means a more secure energy supply as we become less reliant on imported fossil fuels. There are financial and environmental benefits to us all.

A just transition

This energy transition means an immense change to how we power our homes, transport, communities and businesses. Ireland has committed to make this transition to a low carbon economy, a just transition.

In a just transition, vulnerable individuals and communities are not overly burdened by the necessary changes. The changes must be fair, leave no one behind and provide targeted support to help citizens & businesses at risk of a negative socio-economic impact.

The Climate Acton Plan (CAP) places a just transition at its core. CAP acknowledges that some individuals, sectors and regions will be more impacted than others. These cohorts will need help with the costs of the transition to make sure it happens.

The Just Transition Framework lays out the integration of just transition considerations into climate action policies. The framework undertakes, to maximise employment opportunities, and support individuals and communities that may be negatively affected by the transition.

Energy poverty

Energy poverty is when a household is forced to reduce their energy use to a point that living conditions negatively impact their health and wellbeing. With soaring energy prices, energy poverty is a major problem for householders. In 2022 the ESRI estimate a staggering 29% of Irish households were in energy poverty.

Factors that can lead to energy poverty include, low-income, the cost of energy and the level of energy efficiency of the home. Addressing energy poverty is at the heart of a just transition. The most effective long term measure to tackle the root cause of energy poverty, is by improving the energy efficiency of homes. Retrofitting homes reduces heating costs, and the use of fossil fuels permanently.

The National Retrofit Plan

The Government aim to upgrade the energy efficiency of building stock through a range of measures in the National Retrofit Plan. The plan ensures that those least able to afford to retrofit are supported to decarbonising their homes.

The objective is to retrofit 500,000 homes to a BER B2 or cost optimal level and install 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes by 2030. The Warmer Homes scheme delivers fully funded home energy upgrades for those most at risk of energy poverty. Various grant supports are also available to homeowners to upgrade their home’s energy efficiency.

Retrofit costs are prohibitive to many householders. To address this a €500 million low cost energy efficiency upgrade scheme was launched. This aims to encourage homeowners to invest in energy efficiency, making their homes warmer, healthier and cheaper to run.

EU Territorial Just Transition Plan

The Midlands regions is the subject of Irelands first EU Territorial Just Transition Plan. The plan addresses the economic impact as a result of the ending of peat extraction for energy production in the region. It identifies the development needs and priorities for the region with up to €169 million of investment with three priorities;

• Generating employment by investing in the diversification of the local economy.
• Supporting the restoration of peatlands and the repurposing of industrial heritage assets, and
• Providing former peat communities with smart and sustainable mobility options to enable them to benefit directly from the green transition.

Everyone can play their part to achieve a clean energy transition. A just transition enables all consumers to participate actively in the transition to net zero. Be energy smart to reduce your energy costs and help mitigate climate change.