Possible Irish Responses to Climate Change

Abstract: This article discusses the complex cross–sectoral issue of climate change highlighting legislative provisions such as the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. It then considers the Irish implementation response to this, detailing the 2001 National Strategy for Climate Change and also the New 2007 Strategy, outlining what they mean for Ireland as a whole, while looking in more depth at what benefits the possible options could have. Finally, it discusses the role lawyers can play in the mitigation of climate change, the 'peak oil' concept and the likely direction of future second generation legislative and other regulatory mechanisms to ensure tough targets are met in a manner that is meant to be both beneficial to the country and its citizens.