Published: Tuesday, July 9, 2024
CHAIR’S STATEMENT: Ireland’s Provisional Greenhouse Gas Emissions 1990-2023
The provisional greenhouse gas emissions data published today by the EPA shows some positive results across the sectors but overall, it is increasingly unlikely that the first carbon budget will be achieved. Much more urgent action is required from Government if Ireland is to achieve its climate change objectives.
While there is increasing evidence of actions being taken by households, businesses and communities, the Government’s planned actions must be intensified, accelerated and fully delivered across all sectors. A critical aspect of that delivery is ending our dependence on fossil fuels as quickly as possible which is not only essential for the climate but is also good for our health, energy security, the environment and our pockets.
The technology to reduce emissions already exists including greater energy efficiency through retrofits; high efficiency heat pumps to heat our homes; sustainable electricity from wind and solar; and electric cars and vans. However, take-up of these is still too low. These technologies reduce running costs for users, but Government needs to enhance its supports for the initial investment cost for consumers, which is still too prohibitive for many people. There are also solutions for lowering agriculture emissions which need to be supported, such as reduced fertilizer volumes and a switch to modern protected urea.
Greater efforts are required across all sectors to help them remain within their sectoral emissions ceilings. The Council recently made a series of recommendations for the Electricity, Industrial and Transport sectors[1] and will publish its Built Environment Sectoral Review later this week. This will be followed by the Agriculture Sector and the final elements of its Annual Review in the Autumn.
Government must show leadership, support consumer investment in new technologies and take the action required to ensure that Ireland can quickly capitalise on its own natural resources that we know are available.
[1] Publications | Climate Change Advisory Council (climatecouncil.ie)
Notes to Editors:
Table 1 Sectoral Emissions Ceilings 2021-2025, progress to 2023
| SECTOR | 2018 Mt CO2 eq |
2021 Mt CO2 eq |
2022 Mt CO2 eq |
2023 Mt CO2 eq |
Sectoral Emissions Ceiling for CB1 Mt CO2 eq |
Aggregate (2021-2023) as % of CB1 | % Rate of change of Emissions 2022-2023 |
| Electricity | 10.2 | 9.9 | 9.7 | 7.6 | 40 | 68% | -22% |
| Transport | 12.3 | 11.1 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 54 | 64% | 0% |
| Built Environment - Residential | 7.0 | 6.9 | 5.8 | 5.4 | 29 | 62% | -7% |
| Built Environment - Commercial | 1.6 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 7 | 61% | -3% |
| Industry | 7.0 | 7.1 | 6.6 | 6.3 | 30 | 67% | -5% |
| Other | 2.1 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 9 | 63% | -5% |
| Agriculture | 21.4 | 21.9 | 21.8 | 20.8 | 106 | 61% | -5% |
|
LULUCF |
4.2 | 4.6 | 4.0 | 5.6 | n/a | n/a | 41% |
If you have any questions or are seeking further comment, please do not hesitate to contact: Shane Finnegan (shane@aikenpr.com or 00447764534565) or Seamus Donnelly (seamus@aikenpr.com or 00447729556480)
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