Ireland Could Face Climate Fines Of €8bn
Ireland could be facing fines of over €8bn if it misses its 2030 climate targets.
That's according to the head of the Climate Change Advisory Council.
Marie Donnelly says the final total depends on by how much Ireland misses its targets.
In May, the Environmental Protection Agency said Ireland is set to reduce its total greenhouse gas emissions by only 29% by 2030, compared to a target of 51%.
Oisín Coghlan from the Friends of the Earth climate campaign group says that money to be potentially spent on fines, would be better spent here and now:
"We need to redouble our efforts.
"We've made a start, but it's just a start.
"And if, and obviously the more work we do in Ireland to reduce our emissions, the less fines we have to pay.
"But the main thing really for me, which is related to that is it's much better to spend this money now in Ireland on things that will make life better for people in Ireland, rather than pay it out to overseas companies or investors or credit holders."
