Govt accused of using Climate Act as 'scapegoat for years of political failure'

Green Party Councillor Hazel Chu has blasted Minister Jack Chambers for comments stating NGOs have "weaponised" the Climate Act and delayed infrastructure - she claims government is simply shifting blame for "decades of planning failures"

News Stephen Holland Local Democracy Reporter 12:09, 10 Aug 2026 Updated 12:10, 10 Aug 2026 View 2 Images Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, Jack Chambers (Image: Collins Photo Agency)

Decades of planning failures - not climate legislation - are to blame for delayed Dublin projects like the MetroLink, a Green Party councillor has claimed.

Green Party Deputy Leader Hazel Chu has accused the Government of using the Climate Act as “a scapegoat for years of political failure”. Following recent comments by Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers saying the legislation should be reviewed if it is seen as delaying infrastructure, Councillor Chu blasted the Government as being “prepared to tear holes in the Climate Act because it can't defend its own record”.

“Let's be absolutely clear, the Climate Act didn't delay MetroLink , it didn't fail to build homes, it didn't leave our water infrastructure crumbling. It didn't create decades of planning failures. Successive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Governments did,” Cllr Chu said.

Minister Chambers stated in July that Section 15 of the Climate Act, which requires public bodies perform duties in a way that aligns with national climate policy, has been “weaponised” to stall major projects. “It’s not for NGOs to dictate that to Government or to use our court system to fundamentally delay projects,” he said while fielding questions from the media.

Calling out “an excessive use of the courts” by NGOs he said that wider climate ambitions should not “be seen through the prism of whether we’re going to build a particular ring road or not”. “We have multiple objectives across many departments, and it’s not for NGOs or advocates to dictate to Government whether we should progress a particular project,” he said.

View 2 Images Lord Mayor of Dublin and Green Party chairperson Hazel Chu speaking to media in St Stephens Green (Image: Gareth Chaney/Collins)

Cllr Chu blasted these comments as being “part of a clear pattern”. “They've already carved out exemptions to the Climate Act through the Critical Infrastructure Act. Through Freedom of Information we know officials even proposed scrapping Section 15 altogether. Now Jack Chambers is openly questioning whether the Act itself should survive. It's not just irresponsible but negligent since the state has a duty of care to protect the public from the climate crisis,” she said.

"The Independent Climate Change Advisory Council has repeatedly warned Ireland is off track to meet its legally binding climate targets . The IPCC has warned that every delay in cutting emissions increases the costs of climate change and makes future action harder. Yet instead of acting on those warnings, this Government wants to weaken the very law that holds it to account.”

Cllr Chu believes “this isn't about delivering infrastructure faster” but about “removing scrutiny”. “The Climate Act is one of the few pieces of legislation forcing the Government to confront the climate crisis. If Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are willing to dismantle that because it makes life politically inconvenient, they are admitting they have given up on climate leadership altogether," she said.

Recent figures demonstrate that Ireland is falling behind when it comes to meeting climate targets mandated by the European Union, with Dublin City Council's Climate Action Coordinator stating on the council-run podcast ‘What’s the Story, Dublin?’ last May the country is “a fair bit off” hitting its goals for 2030.

Ireland’s aim to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030 compared to 2018 levels is a major ambition of the Climate Action Plan. Recent projections from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) show that greenhouse gas emissions could achieve a reduction of up to 25% by 2030, significantly less than the national target of 51%.

Although Ireland was close to meeting its first 'carbon budget' which set a cap on emissions from 2021 to 2025, the country is failing to meet them low enough to meet the second budget which runs until 2030. Ireland has a legal obligation to reduce emissions 42% by 2030, but EPA projects only hitting about 23%.

Transport, industry and the buildings (commercial and public) sectors are projected to be the furthest from achieving their sectoral emission ceilings in 2030. Agriculture emissions are projected to reduce by up to 19%.

Dr Eimear Cotter, EPA Director General, said last May: “The EPA’s projections show that the current rate of delivery of the Climate Action Plan and associated policies could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2030 - only half of the reductions needed.

“While greenhouse gas emissions are declining, European and national emission reduction targets are projected to be missed. There must be a renewed focus on delivering the actions to meet Ireland’s climate targets which will be a significant challenge given the short timeframe to 2030.”

“Meeting these targets will deliver multiple benefits. These include reducing Ireland’s reliance on fossil fuels in electricity, transport and heating and strengthening national energy security and resilience. Achieving these emission reductions will also improve public health, provide green employment and protect our environment.

“Overall, these trends demonstrate that progress is achievable but accelerating delivery is critical. Renewable energy is now expected to provide nearly 60% of Ireland’s electricity by 2030. It is imperative given the increasing demand for electricity across several sectors, that renewables are delivered at the pace and scale required to meet this demand.”

This content is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme

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