Friends of the Earth Welcomes Climate Watchdog’s Support for a Faster and Fairer Fossil Fuel Phase-out in Irish Homes

Friends of the Earth Ireland welcomes today’s publication of detailed analysis by the state’s climate watchdog, the Climate Change Advisory Council, on climate action in Irish homes and buildings. This comprehensive review [1] provides a detailed assessment and recommendations for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the built environment sector. 

The Council’s report supports Friends of the Earth research and recommendations [2]. It notes the urgent need for the Government to reduce and phase out Ireland’s reliance on fossil fuels and to replace heating systems with alternatives such as heat pumps and district heating.

 

Clare O’Connor, Energy Policy Officer at Friends of the Earth said:

"It’s welcome and significant that the Climate Change Advisory Council's review endorses and echoes research and recommendations developed by Friends of the Earth to decarbonise our buildings, such as increasing targets and funding for retrofitting of social housing;  providing more support for households to install renewable heating systems; and a more targeted, area-based approach to retrofitting. 

The Government must now heed the advice of the Council and civil society and implement the recommendations made in order to guarantee a faster and fairer transition away from fossil fuels in our buildings"

 

The Council echoes Friends of the Earth’s recommendations urging the Government to:

• Increase targets for the number of local authority homes to be retrofitted by 2030 (70% of total social housing stock), as well as prioritising the worst-performing homes and providing advance clarity for councils on targets and budget allocations.

• Urgently publish the National Heat Policy Statement, which was due in 2023, setting out a comprehensive plan for phasing out all new fossil fuel heating systems and accelerating heat pump and district heating rollout.

• Deploy new financial mechanisms to better support those just above the energy poverty threshold but who cannot afford a deep retrofit, including targeted area-based approaches to retrofitting at a local authority level.

• Provide further financial support for lower-income households unable to afford deep retrofits through existing home energy upgrade schemes and low-cost loans.

• Incentivise and encourage more homeowners to proactively replace their existing fossil fuel heating systems with heat pumps and district heating systems. 

 

ENDS

 

Notes:

1. CCAC built environment report available here: https://www.climatecouncil.ie/councilpublications/annualreviewandreport/AR2024-Built%20Environment.pdf

2. Friends of the Earth & Irish Green Building Council research cited in the report here: https://www.friendsoftheearth.ie/assets/files/pdf/igbc_final_report_digital_final_04.pdf
   Joint Civil Society Submission to Energy Poverty Action Plan
   https://www.friendsoftheearth.ie/publications/joint-civil-society-submission-to-energy-poverty-action-plan/