Ireland meets emissions reduction targets for five major pollutants

Ireland met EU emissions reduction targets for five major air pollutants – ammonia, non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) – in 2023, new data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found.

According to the EPA data, Ireland‘s ammonia emissions fell by 4% last year, driven by an 18% reduction in nitrogen fertiliser use and increased adoption of low emission slurry spreading practices by farmers.

“The use of low emission slurry spreading on farms avoided the release of 7,000 tonnes of ammonia to the atmosphere,” commented Dr Eimear Cotter, director of the EPA’s Office of Evidence and Assessment. “In addition, reduced fertiliser use contributed to reductions in ammonia emissions.

“Acceleration and widespread implementation of such practices is needed to keep Ireland on the pathway to better air quality and ongoing compliance with EU 2030 targets.”

Following previous non-compliance in 2020 and 2021, these practices have brought ammonia into compliance with EU emissions targets.

Emissions reductions

Reductions in other pollutants were largely attributed to Ireland’s move away from fossil fuels in power generation and home heating, with sulphur dioxide emissions dropping by a fifth (-21%), fine particulate matter by 11%, nitrogen oxides by 7% and NMVOCs by 4%.

“It is encouraging that our latest assessment projects compliance across all five key air pollutants in relation to EU 2030 targets assuming ongoing and full implementation of relevant government policies and measures,” added Dr Tomás Murray, senior manager of EPA Emissions Statistics.

“It is notable that the move away from fossil fuel use in power stations, businesses and homes can deliver multiple benefits across our health, climate and environment in the coming years.”

Non-compliance warnings

The findings represent something of a turnaround for Ireland, which was among nine EU member states previously issued warnings for non-compliance under Directive 2016/2284.

‘In Ireland’s case the letter related to the exceedance of the 2020 emission reduction commitment for ammonia and the reasoned opinion related to exceedances in 2020 and 2021 of the reduction commitments for ammonia,’ the EPA said. Read more here.