Case Study: Research Policy Interface Thematic Group
Ireland’s Long Term Strategy on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction, 2024
A long-term climate strategy in fulfilment of national, EU and international law
Academics and Institutional Affiliation:
Sustainability Institute, MaREI, University College Cork
Evidence of policy outcome referencing the role of the research:
Yes pages 82-86 of the strategy document
Research undertaken that informed or underpinned the policy outcome:
The Ireland’s Long-Term Strategy on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction (2024) draws on research from the MaREI Centre at University College Cork. Using the TIMES-Ireland Model, developed and operated by UCC, the research team conducted detailed energy system modelling to:
Identify sectoral decarbonisation pathways and technology deployment timelines to meet the 2050 climate neutrality target.
Assess the costs, trade-offs, and feasibility of mitigation measures across electricity, heat, transport, agriculture, and industry.
Develop long-term net-zero scenarios aligned with EU and Paris Agreement goals, ensuring sectoral targets are technically and economically robust.
This modelling work (pp. 84–86) provided the analytical foundation for the strategy, underpinning policy design, investment planning, and the evaluation of Ireland’s most cost-effective and achievable pathways to climate neutrality
Key learnings for you from this research-policy bridging process
Research supports and can drive the implementation of policy
SDGs impacted
SDG 13
