Inside Politics with Hugh Linehan How climate slid down this Government’s agenda
12 snips
Feb 24, 2026 Caroline O'Doherty, climate and science correspondent at The Irish Times, breaks down why Ireland is drifting from its climate law. She discusses missed 2030 targets, the surge in energy-hungry data centres, stalled offshore wind and the politics around agriculture and airports. Short, sharp scenes on legal fights, adaptation gaps and the trade-offs shaping Ireland’s climate future.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Potential European Penalties Are Large But Politically Contested
- Projected European compliance costs for missed targets range widely (€8bn–€26bn), but government downplays those figures as speculative.
- Advisory bodies fed these numbers into briefings; ministers argue Europe may favor investment over fines amid political shifts.
Agriculture's Land Share Makes Emissions Hard To Tackle
- Agriculture is a dominant, politically powerful emissions source because 65–68% of Irish land is agricultural, making land-use change highly sensitive.
- The sector includes both small farmers wanting change and large dairy businesses tied to international commodity markets and debt.
Phase Down Livestock To Cut Farm Emissions
- Reduce livestock numbers progressively to lower agricultural emissions rather than drastic culling in one year.
- Shift land towards more vegetables, higher-value and organic production while supporting farmers through transition and subsidy realignment.