In its first quarterly update on Irish greenhouse gas emissions, the Environmental Protection Agency has confirmed a 2.2 per cent drop in the first quarter of this year compared to 2023 — with electricity, industry and agriculture being the best-performing sectors.
Electricity emissions were down 16.7 per cent, a reduction of 312 kilotonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (kt CO2 eq, which is the unit for measuring emissions) — one tonne is equivalent to driving a petrol car for 5,000 miles or the electricity consumption of 0.65 average households for a year.
The electricity decline was driven by reductions in fossil fuel use and increased importation of electricity using interconnectors, while agriculture emissions were down 2.6 per cent (129 kt CO2 eq) due to reduced lime application to soils and lower milk output with poor weather a contributory factor.
Transport emissions, however, were up 2.7 per cent (78.2 kt CO2eq) driven by increased sales of petrol (up 9.6 per cent) and diesel (up 1.3 per cent). Emissions from commercial and household buildings increased by 5.8 per cent (126 kt CO2 eq) due to increased demand for heating and a fall in gas prices. Industrial emissions declined by 4.7 per cent (69 kt CO2 eq).
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EPA Office of Evidence and Assessment director Eimear Cotter said: “Ireland joins a small number of countries worldwide to carry out this type of [quarterly] assessment, which will provide valuable early and frequent indicator data for the monitoring and governance of Ireland’s climate action.”
National greenhouse gas inventories and projections are prepared annually by the EPA.
The quarterly reduction of 2.2 per cent is welcome and follows the largest annual reduction in emissions outside of recession reported in 2023, said Dr Cotter. “This shows we can make progress in reducing our emissions when concerted action is taken,” she added.
The increases for transport, commercial and residential buildings, she said, show the clear link between increased energy demand — largely delivered by fossil fuels — and emissions.
The findings signal the continued impact of climate action and decarbonisation measures across Ireland’s economy and society, said EPA Climate Programme manager Mary Frances Rochford. Assessment on a quarterly basis also highlighted impacts from market prices and weather conditions.
“We see increases in emissions from heating associated with lower fuel price and cooler temperatures than quarter one, 2023. Poor weather conditions also impacted lime application to soils which led to lower emissions from the agriculture sector,” she added.
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