Government environmental policies have been blamed for the results of a study by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that finds Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions are rising steeply.
The report, to be published next week, will show Ireland's emissions grew last year by over a million tonnes a year to 70 million tonnes. The 2 per cent rise is the largest annual increase since 2001.
Under the Kyoto Protocol, the Government agreed to limit the rise in emissions to 13 per cent above 1990 levels. The EPA report shows last year's levels were 25 per cent above 1990 levels and that the trend is upward.
Fine Gael environment spokesman Bernard Durkan accused the Government of concentrating on buying emissions credits rather than tackling the root of the problem.
He called on Minister for the Environment Dick Roche to introduce measures to increase wind energy production and to bring in tax breaks for biofuels and vehicles using renewable energy sources.
Eamon Gilmore of the Labour Party also cited the 8 per cent rise in transport emissions as a major contributory factor in Ireland's poor record on tackling greenhouse gases.
"Inadequate road and rail infrastructure, a poor public transport system, plus flawed planning will continue to result in more cars stuck in traffic jams, which, of course, pushes up our greenhouse emission levels," he said.
"We need proper integrated action between the Environment, Transport, Energy and Agriculture Departments to tackle this problem."
Green Party environment spokesman Ciarán Cuffe said the Government's setting aside of €270 million to purchase carbon credits abroad "is a short-sighted, short term 'sticking plaster' solution to a gravely serious problem".
He called for a review of building regulations on insulating; the fast-tracking of clean, efficient public transport; more investment in renewable energy and the prioritising of a spatial strategy that promotes investment in the regions.
Friends of the Earth called on all political parties to make emissions cuts central to their manifestos in the upcoming election.
Director Oisín Coghlan said the next Government should pass a climate security act that would force emissions to be cut by 3 per cent each year.
"A climate law will help Ireland make the shift to a low-carbon economy in a managed way that guarantees our long-term prosperity and enhances our quality of life. Otherwise we face much greater disruption and upheaval down the line," Mr Coghlan said.