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Hard work paying off: Lowest emissions in three decades

There was positive news this week as provisional greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for 2023 indicate that overall emissions decreased by 6.8 per cent (4 Mt CO2 eq.), with agriculture emissions dropping by 4.6 per cent (1 Mt CO2 eq.).

With reductions in almost all sectors, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report, this is the lowest that GHG emissions have been in three decades, and below the 1990 baseline. The data show the largest single-year reductions in the energy and agriculture sectors and the lowest level of residential emissions since 1990, while transport emissions were below pre-Covid levels.

Agriculture emissions decreased by 4.6 per cent to 20.8 Mt CO2 eq. due to an 18 per cent reduction in fertiliser nitrogen use, reduced lime application and overall reduction in numbers of livestock. Dairy cow numbers increased by 0.6 per cent, however total milk production decreased by 4.7 per cent in 2023.

In total, 55 million tonnes of CO2 eq. were emitted, excluding emissions from Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF).

  • Power generation emissions decreased by 21.6 per cent (2.2 Mt CO2 eq.)
  • Agriculture emissions decreased by 4.6 per cent (1.0 Mt CO2 eq.)
  • Residential emissions decreased by 7.1 per cent (0.4 Mt CO2 eq.)
  • Transport emissions increased marginally by 0.3 per cent (0.03 Mt CO2 eq.)
  • Emissions per capita decreased from 11.4 tonnes CO2 eq./person to 10.4 tonnes CO2 eq./person in 2023.

Commenting on the report, Laura Burke, director general, EPA said: “These are significant findings that signal the impact of climate action and decarbonisation measures across Ireland’s economy and society. We see the impact of more renewables and interconnection powering electricity, less fossil fuel use in home heating, reduced nitrogen fertiliser use in agriculture and more biofuel in transport.
“The data indicate a move towards reducing GHG emissions at the scale and pace required to meet our climate ambition of a 51 per cent reduction by 2030. However, while these are positive results for the year 2023, we are still well off track in terms of meeting EU and national 2030 targets. We need to maintain and further build momentum.”
The assessment shows that Ireland complied with its EU Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR) commitments for 2021-2023, with the use of allowed flexibilities. However, these latest data show that 2023 GHG emissions were still only 10.1 per cent below 2005 levels, well short of Ireland’s EU Effort Sharing reduction commitment of 42 per cent by 2030.
With regard to compliance with national commitments under the Climate Act 2015 (as amended), the assessment shows that GHG emissions (incl. LULUCF) are 7.8 per cent lower than in 2018, well off the National Climate Ambition of a 51 per cent reduction by 2030.  An extremely challenging annual reduction of 8.3 per cent for each of the years 2024 and 2025 is required if Ireland is to stay within the first carbon budget.

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