Ireland‘s greenhouse gas emissions fell by 2% last year, with the energy sector seeing a 8.9% drop in emissions, and industry emissions down 4.6%, new data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has showed.
Other sectors to see declines in emissions included agriculture, down 1.7%, and transport, down 1.2%. However, emissions generated from the heating of homes and buildings was up 5.6%, the data indicated.
While this progress is welcome, meeting both EU and national climate commitments will be “extremely challenging”, Laura Burke, EPA director general, said.
Greenhouse gas emissions
“Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions have declined for three years in a row,” she commented. “These important findings underscore the effectiveness of climate action and implementation of decarbonisation strategies across our economy and society.
“While the 2024 data is moving in the right direction in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, it is not at the necessary scale and pace to achieve our EU targets or the National Climate commitments. For example, if Ireland is to meet our first carbon budget, a further 10% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is needed in 2025.”
Ireland emitted 54 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2eq) last year, down 1.1 Mt CO2eq compared to 2023.
Emissions in 2024 were 12% lower than 2018 levels, which means that Ireland is currently off-track to meet the 51% reduction required by 2030 under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act.
Ireland is also seeking to achieve a 42% reduction in emissions from key sectors including agriculture, transport, and buildings by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. As of 2024, greenhouse gas emissions were 11% below 2005 levels.
‘Greater challenges’
“There are positives to be taken from this assessment given the declines in emissions observed across key sectors,” commented Dr Tomas Murray, senior manager, EPA. “However, some sectors face greater challenges to decarbonise than others.
“In particular, based on this assessment, both Agriculture and Transport each require significant reductions of 5.6% and 15.5%, respectively, in 2025 to meet their indicative percentage reduction targets. The national climate objective of a 51% reduction by 2030 will be unattainable unless every sector meets their reduction target and sectoral ceiling.” Read more here.
