Climate change: Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions at 30-year low

Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions have reached their lowest level in 30 years, according to the latest figures from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Almost every sector saw a decline in 2023, resulting in an overall reduction of 6.8%.

It is the largest reduction outside years when the economy was in recession, and the second consecutive annual decline.

However, the EPA said the country was “still far from meeting” its national and EU targets for 2030.

Laura Burke, director general of the EPA, said the findings were “significant” and showed the “impact of climate action and decarbonisation measures on Ireland’s economy and society”.

The largest decline was recorded in the energy sector, where emissions decreased by 21.6%.

This was largely due to a 12-fold increase in electricity imports, an increase in the share of renewable energy and a decrease in the use of coal, oil and peat.

Emissions from agriculture fell by 4.6%, driven by an 18% reduction in nitrogen fertiliser use, reduced lime application and an overall reduction in livestock farming.

Residential emissions fell by 7%, helped by high fuel prices and a mild winter.

In 2023, more than 30,000 heat pumps will be installed in Ireland, bringing the total to 120,000 installations.

However, emissions from transport increased slightly by 0.3%.

“We are seeing the impact of more renewable energy sources and interconnections for electricity, less use of fossil fuels for home heating, less use of nitrogen fertilisers in agriculture and more use of biofuels for transport,” Ms Burke added.

“The data shows action is underway to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the scale and pace needed to meet our climate ambition of a 51 per cent reduction by 2030.

“While these are positive results for 2023, we are still far from achieving the EU and national targets for 2030.

“We must maintain and continue to build the momentum.”