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THE CLIMATE CHANGE Advisory Council has said that the reliance on expensive, imported fossil fuels “needs to end” so that people can afford to heat their homes sustainably.
The CCAC made the call in a new report which found that emissions from buildings fell by 6% in 2023, said to be partly due to the high price of fossil fuels.
The review, which was released today, found that emissions from residential buildings fell by 7.1% in 2023.
The CCAC called upon the government to maker it “cheaper and easier” to install heat pumps in homes and workplaces, saying that the reliance on imported fossil fuels cannot go on.
It recommended within the review that the government incentivise and encourage many more homeowners, particularly those with homes built after 2007 or which are already suitable for a heat pump system, to replace existing oil and gas boilers with heat pumps and district heating systems.
The CCAC welcomed the increase in capacity and delivery of the National Retrofit Plan in 2023, but said that it wants to see the ambition and rate of upgrades to social homes doubled.
It also called for the publication of the National Heat Policy Statement and enaction of the Heat Bill.
Launching the Annual Review of the Built Environment sector, CCAC chair Marie Donnelly emphasised the need to phase out fossil fuels from homes and workplaces.
“Building on the success and the positive impact of retrofitting incentives with almost 48,000 households benefitting in 2023, government must do more to help everyone make sustainable choices in heating and insulating their homes,” she said.
Donnelly added that many of the worst performing homes are likely to be owned by older people and householders who are least likely to be able to afford the work required.
“More must be done to support them and ensure that they are provided with necessary help to retrofit their houses and lower their heating costs,” she said.
Member of the CCAC, Jillian Mahon, added that the finalisation of the National Planning Framework before the end of the year will be “critical” to help support urban regeneration in communities nationally.
The group also recommended the government increase the resilience of the built environment to the future impacts of climate change such as flooding, extreme rainfall, droughts and intense storms, by developing Sectoral Adaptation Plans.
Last month, the CCAC warned Ireland was on track to miss its 2025 targets as its transport emissions rose last year and demand for petrol jumped by over 7%.
The review found that the emission reductions recorded in 2023 were due to high fuel prices, a relatively mild winter ad the introduction of nationwide solid fuel regulations, as well as fuel switching and energy efficiency improvements.
It said that a significant roll-out of decarbonised heating systems, particularly heat pumps and district heating, will be required to sustain these reductions.
“Despite limited progress in some key areas in 2023, the residential sector is on track
to meet its first sectoral emissions ceiling,” the review said. “Commercial and public sector buildings will require a reduction in emissions of 2.9% per annum to remain within the sectoral ceiling. The trajectory for the second sectoral ceiling is dependent on the large-scale roll-out of district heating and biomethane.”
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Whereever you are in the Country do your best to support your local traders
I don’t think people realise how many Irish jobs can be saved or created by buying Irish produce.
I don’t think the tweeting alone will help but the serious amount of publicity from the TV show and articles such as this will most definitely.
NO
@Chelsea . Council permitted over development in lieu of short term gains ( levys ) .
totally agree Gerard :) lack of long term vision in favour of fees and then they expect traders to pay excessive levies.
At present Drogheda town centre is controlled by Drogheda Borough Corporation. The Northern environs are controlled by Louth CoCo and south and west of the town controlled by Meath CoCo. Each local authority granted retail and residential developments to maximise levies and rates, leading to mass, unco-ordinated development. Drogheda needs joined up thinking to maximise its potential A single Drogheda City Authority should be established immediately to manage it’s development going forward. The first new Irish city for 2016!!
100% gerard ….that was motivating factor in the spread of drogheda over last ten years…
@SIlent P Everything you said makes sense to me. Drogheda is a medievil town, its main streets were designed for horsedrawn carts so are not going to get any wider, there is no doubt decisions made in recent years have had a detrimental affect on the town, its main street has been described as a ghost town. We really need to see significant employment in the town and not have Drogheda turn into a dormitory town for employers in other areas, this is begining to happen.
All I know is that I have no interest in anything that anyone on my twitter feed has to say about anything, ever!
If you no interest in what people in your Twitter feed say, why did you choose follow them in the first place?
Who pissed in your cornflakes
its unfortunately the councils fault the center of town is suffering with reckless planning for big stores on the outskirts of the town. That said these stores provide huge employment boost to drogheda.
@Derek yeah goodman blame the council as always!! Not there fault its where the land lies that’s where development begins!
The cruel fact is no amount of marketing is going to win cheaper price. If there is choice between Irish product and other product and if we assume they represent the same level of quality and price (or at least very similar), of course I will pick up Irish. But who in health of mind will pay more for the same or even in worse case, for inferior product, just because it’s Irish or locally sold or produced? Economy is brutal and unfortunately there is no great place for sentiments.
I would personally pay a small premium for Irish goods.
makes little difference if you dont live near the area or pass through it. Advertising won’t change that much at all
I watched the programme on TV during last week and was very impressed by the community spirit. There is always a danger that people in that area would go shopping to Northern Ireland because of it’s proximity to the border so I think awareness was raised and it was put up to the people what they could do to keep jobs in the area and help business. I think it will be somewhat successful.
“A DANGER OF OF GOING SHOPPING IN THE NORTH”, it’s people making an economic choice sheelagh, not crossing a minefield with infested swamps. next thing we’ll hera of comely maidens frollicing at the crossroads
YES IT CAN . It is great to see a community coming together to help each other out . You can’t win if your not in so sign up now € 3000 is nothing to ignore in a recession . Well done to all involved .
Am I missing something? How is posting a picture on Twitter going to help them out of recession?
well i guess if some one posts a picture of a clothes shop for example then for anyone that sees that picture will have an increased a awareness of that shop. Just like large company have advertising campaigns the more you see their advert the more likely you will remember them when you are in the market for a particular product.
Great idea. All for supporting local business. Strange one today. I was looking to get an 8ft 4 x 2 Batton for my new back gate. 25 euro in Atlantic and the same thing over in TJ O Mahony builders providers was… Get this… €3.85 cent. How the hell do these big companies stay in business with crazy prices like this??
Can the world tweet its way out of recession?
Obama: sup y’all, word is everbodys buyin gold, culd’ya quit cause my buddies at Goldman Sachs are screaming down the telephone. Peace
Merkel: only true Germans dont buy gold and let the banks rule. Word
Berlu: Bung Bunga Bye Bye!!!!!!!!!
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