FARMING: Currently the sector with the biggest greenhouse emissions, 28 per cent of the total. Primarily caused by flatulent animals.
Cow and sheep populations will drop dramatically with a shift to growing biomass and biofuel crops, including willow and grass.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
The Minster for Energy, Eamon Ryan, says renewables will contribute 42 per cent of electricity by 2020. Windmills, both on land and offshore, will be a common site. Tidal and wave power will also be developed. Solar panels will become prevalent on roofs, especially in the southern half of the country. Wood pellets and other renewable and carbon-neutral forms of heating and power will also be easily available.
CONGESTION CHARGE
Sure to be introduced. The question is when? One suggestion is to charge more for bigger cars and less for people who car-share.
CARBON LEVY
Put on the back-burner (almost literally) since 2000 and then ditched in 2004. Very much back on the agenda. The Commission on Taxation will issue recommendations this year.
INSULATON
Fuel prices could triple to $300 a barrel by 2020. That will force people to retrofit their homes with proper insulation. Duncan Stewart estimates it could cost up to €25,000 per house on average, amounting to a €40 billion bill for the country.
NUCLEAR
Ireland will rely on British nuclear power but will not have its own nuclear reactor.
BICYCLES
Not quite Beijing but will become more common on city streets. Will be helped by the introduction of a free bicycle scheme similar to one operating in Paris and other European cities.
FLYING
The era of cheap flights will end. But when? After 2020. Friends of the Earth says planned development of Dublin airport to cater for 30 million passengers will kill any hope Ireland has of reaching its targets.