Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

File image of a heat pump. Alamy Stock Photo

Climate Change Advisory Council says reliance on imported fossil fuels 'needs to end'

Last month, the CCAC warned Ireland is on track to miss its 2025 targets as demand for petrol jumped 7%.

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%.

Findings

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.”

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

View 52 comments
Close
52 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John K
    Favourite John K
    Report
    Oct 1st 2024, 11:28 AM

    “Unable to cope with the burden of our success” strange reason to close a business. I wonder if there is more to the story.

    124
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul O'Mahoney
    Favourite Paul O'Mahoney
    Report
    Oct 1st 2024, 11:32 AM

    @John K: It’s a strange comment, they have been in business through a lot worse times.

    I’ll always remember their potato pie and it’s size especially in the 80s

    63
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute honey badger
    Favourite honey badger
    Report
    Oct 1st 2024, 11:45 AM

    @John K: Maybe they’re getting out while on top. I’m sure they’ve made a few quid. No harm wanting to enjoy the well-earned spoils.

    79
    See 12 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute eoin fitzpatrick
    Favourite eoin fitzpatrick
    Report
    Oct 1st 2024, 11:50 AM

    @John K: staffing issues usually means bottom of the barrel wages and horrible hours. If they shared profits more with the ground staff I doubt they’d have staffing issues.

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul O'Mahoney
    Favourite Paul O'Mahoney
    Report
    Oct 1st 2024, 11:53 AM

    Why not sell it as a going concern then? It makes very little sense.

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stanley Marsh
    Favourite Stanley Marsh
    Report
    Oct 1st 2024, 12:04 PM

    @John K: According to the interview Brian gave on the radio this morning they were always flat out but due to rising costs they couldn’t make the business work.

    That and the fact that not being able to get the proper full time staff was putting too much pressure on them.

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John K
    Favourite John K
    Report
    Oct 1st 2024, 12:17 PM

    @honey badger: getting out on top? That’s a reason to retire from boxing, not business.

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Louis Jacob
    Favourite Louis Jacob
    Report
    Oct 1st 2024, 12:25 PM

    @John K: If you were in the hospitality business, you’d know what he was talking about. It wears you down.

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Anthony Curran
    Favourite Anthony Curran
    Report
    Oct 1st 2024, 12:28 PM

    @John K: Haven’t heard an excuse like that since Pat Mustard said he’s just too gorgeous!

    38
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jonathan Kennedy
    Favourite Jonathan Kennedy
    Report
    Oct 1st 2024, 1:00 PM

    @John K: they probably want to sell it on and the truth might hurt the sell price. Cafes are all busy, but busy paying the running costs to energy companies, revenue and unsustainable labour rates. It is what it is don’t backlash at me.

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jonathan Kennedy
    Favourite Jonathan Kennedy
    Report
    Oct 1st 2024, 1:01 PM

    @eoin fitzpatrick: do you think! I bet if you saw their books you would have a cringe and a rethink.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mr “JonnieBoy” Johnson
    Favourite Mr “JonnieBoy” Johnson
    Report
    Oct 1st 2024, 1:10 PM

    @Paul O’Mahoney: why not sell as a going concern? Something up here.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niall English
    Favourite Niall English
    Report
    Oct 1st 2024, 1:35 PM

    @Mr “JonnieBoy” Johnson: like most businesses, closing their doors before the revenue come looking for the warehoused tax.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mr “JonnieBoy” Johnson
    Favourite Mr “JonnieBoy” Johnson
    Report
    Oct 1st 2024, 1:36 PM

    @Niall English: ah ha, I see said the blind man.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kevin Kerr
    Favourite Kevin Kerr
    Report
    Oct 1st 2024, 3:15 PM

    @Niall English: closing the business does not absolve them from their tax liabilities, including any warehoused tax that they might owe. Indeed, all it means is that they need to pay the tax now rather than some date in the future

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Geraldine O'Riordan
    Favourite Geraldine O'Riordan
    Report
    Oct 1st 2024, 11:38 AM

    30 staff out of work with 6 days’ notice.
    Very strange situation.
    Can they get redundancy, holiday pay, etc.

    79
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seamus Enright
    Favourite Seamus Enright
    Report
    Oct 1st 2024, 1:02 PM

    It’s ironic that Martin, who grew up fairly close by is mourning it’s demise when he’s part of the government that is strangling small businesses with red tape.

    Corporate Chains are far more able to deal with the onerous bureaucracy that our government forces restaurant owners to deal with.

    76
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute lastfewchocices
    Favourite lastfewchocices
    Report
    Oct 1st 2024, 1:22 PM

    @Seamus Enright: it’s not the government. It’s the eu. Box ticking exercises for Brussels. Even a general election with a change of government won’t make a difference.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute thomas molloy
    Favourite thomas molloy
    Report
    Oct 1st 2024, 12:32 PM

    Run off your feet collecting various taxes and pie in the sky level commercial rates levied by pen pushers cheered on by leftist media and populist politicians. We are a communist state in all but name.

    79
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul O'Mahoney
    Favourite Paul O'Mahoney
    Report
    Oct 1st 2024, 11:59 AM

    People of Cork will know this but I’ll inform the rest of the country. Each branch has a picture of Padre Pio and the reason for that was, I believe, Jackie was diagnosed with cancer and the prognosis wasn’t very good so they went and visited Padre Pio and he prayed over him and his cancer disappeared.

    70
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Louis Jacob
    Favourite Louis Jacob
    Report
    Oct 1st 2024, 12:21 PM

    First Sir Henry’s, now Lennox’s… Cork “rooooned”

    40
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean O'Dhubhghaill
    Favourite Sean O'Dhubhghaill
    Report
    Oct 1st 2024, 12:29 PM

    @Louis Jacob: As long as The Mutton Lane stays open…….
    (though the tourists can be a pain in the a*se)

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Louis Jacob
    Favourite Louis Jacob
    Report
    Oct 1st 2024, 12:30 PM

    @Sean O’Dhubhghaill: Yes, I forgot about that. And Sin E.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Liam Kelleher
    Favourite Liam Kelleher
    Report
    Oct 1st 2024, 2:16 PM

    If you know anything about Lennox’s, you would know it was run by a great family who treated customers and staff above and beyond, for generations, literally. It will be missed.
    They dearly wanted to reach 75 years.
    Brian mentioned two factors on the radio.
    1..Staff hard to acquire (used to have more)
    2..Red tape paperwork ..its so hard running a small business in an anti business country (take a bow Me-Hole) with the costs and time involved.
    The feeling from the radio was it simply was not worth going on. Not a decision taken lightly..
    This was an innovative (they added a laundrette to Bandon Rd), successful and well run business.
    They had taken lease back earlier this year and must have came to the sad realisation it wasn’t worth it.
    This sector is down 25% in one year.
    I found Martins comment offensive.

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Hard Road
    Favourite The Hard Road
    Report
    Oct 1st 2024, 11:27 AM

    Very sad to see these long running charities shutting up shop.
    Who will feed the good people of Cork now I wonder?

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul O'Mahoney
    Favourite Paul O'Mahoney
    Report
    Oct 1st 2024, 11:33 AM

    @The Hard Road: It’s not a charity it’s a business.

    47
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute 1975johnnie
    Favourite 1975johnnie
    Report
    Oct 1st 2024, 12:07 PM

    @Paul O’Mahoney: the sarcasm went over your head

    48
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul O'Mahoney
    Favourite Paul O'Mahoney
    Report
    Oct 1st 2024, 12:27 PM

    @1975johnnie: What sarcasm are you referring to.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jonathan Kennedy
    Favourite Jonathan Kennedy
    Report
    Oct 1st 2024, 8:40 PM

    @The Hard Road: no laughing emojis allowed….but if they were you got one from me.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute HisMastersAlibi
    Favourite HisMastersAlibi
    Report
    Oct 1st 2024, 1:33 PM

    That’s sad to hear, loved a much from there, 1st time was intimidating with calling in the order from way back in the queue.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Phillip Smyth
    Favourite Phillip Smyth
    Report
    Oct 1st 2024, 12:22 PM

    Burdocks Christchurch would be hard to beat Ray and chips soaked in lard.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Meh Meh
    Favourite Meh Meh
    Report
    Oct 1st 2024, 12:34 PM

    @Phillip Smyth: Ray is absolutely disgusting, it’s like a battered umbrella. How anyone likes it is beyond me.

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Phillip Smyth
    Favourite Phillip Smyth
    Report
    Oct 1st 2024, 12:41 PM

    @Meh Meh: it’s a Dublin acquired taste don’t have a wing as you call umbrella, you can have the centre of blonde Ray female of the species obviously, known as long Ray and a single delicious.

    9
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Meh Meh
    Favourite Meh Meh
    Report
    Oct 1st 2024, 12:47 PM

    @Phillip Smyth: Dub here too. Ah, I think I only ever tried the wing. Pure manky if not expecting it to be so full of bones. It was like, munch, argh, boke. Bin.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Phillip Smyth
    Favourite Phillip Smyth
    Report
    Oct 1st 2024, 3:21 PM

    @Meh Meh: the bones are flat so no need to bother with the bones, just scrape the fish off the bone each side it really is a dub thing, most people feel its like a ray couldn’t eat that.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Meh Meh
    Favourite Meh Meh
    Report
    Oct 1st 2024, 6:06 PM

    @Phillip Smyth: You can also scrape the fleshy bits off a rats carcass, but I’d much prefer a fishfinger meself.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Flanagan
    Favourite John Flanagan
    Report
    Oct 1st 2024, 4:31 PM

    My god this new one on me. Cork has a chipper closing. Among many around the country. But mehole is very sad because it’s in Cork. Ahhh mehole has nothing else to upset him only a chipper in his city of cork. No other city chipper like cork. Tell u what’s his worries are. Cod and chips. What a cod he is

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Louis Jacob
    Favourite Louis Jacob
    Report
    Oct 1st 2024, 5:53 PM

    @John Flanagan: A family business of 70 years providing employment for 1000s over the years. What do you want?

    16
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds