Fewer cows, more biofuel and no peat, but more is needed if Ireland is to meet its climate targets.
Ireland slashed its overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2pc last year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which released its provisional GHG emissions figures for 2024.
Excluding land use and forestry, the EPA finds that 54m tonnes of C02 equivalent was emitted in Ireland in 2024 – 1.1m tonnes of C02 equivalent less than the year before.
However, while most sectors showcased decreased numbers, emissions from homes and commercial heating rose.
A breakdown of the figures show that emissions from the energy industry, which includes electricity generation and oil refining, decreased for a third consecutive year to an all-time low of 7.2m tonnes C02 equivalent.
This was largely attributed to almost 40pc of energy generation coming from renewables, in combination with a rise in energy imports, which are now up to 14pc of the total supply. Moreover, 2024 was also the first year that peat was not used in electricity generation in Ireland since 1950.
Manufacturing combustion and industrial processes emissions decreased by 4.6pc to 6m tonnes of C02 equivalent last year due to reduced coal and oil usage. While emissions from the cement sector decreased by nearly 16pc.
Moreover, agriculture emissions also decreased last year as a result of a 2.9pc reduction in cattle numbers, while the year also saw the first post-pandemic decrease in transport emissions. The EPA links this reduction to an increased use of biofuels.
However, residential, commercial and public building emissions rose by 5.6pc due to a colder winter and increased use of fossil fuels. This rise follows two consecutive years where emissions from residential buildings were at their lowest since 1990, the EPA said.
“These important findings underscore the effectiveness of climate action and implementation of decarbonisation strategies across our economy and society,” said Laura Burke, the director general of the EPA.
“We’re seeing the tangible benefits from sectors like electricity, with more renewables and interconnection, and transport, with a notable increase in biofuel use in our vehicles.”
However, while Ireland is moving in a positive direction, the reductions need to be ramped up if the country is to reach EU and national targets.
“For example, if Ireland is to meet our first carbon budget, a further 10pc reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is needed in 2025, which will be extremely challenging,” Burke explains.
In terms of EU targets, the provisional figure show that Ireland exceeded its EU Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR) commitments in 2024. The ESR sets 2030 targets for emissions outside the annual national limits and EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
The ETS is based on a ‘cap and trade’ principle, which requires companies to limit the amount of GHG that can be emitted by their plants. As part of this cap, firms receive emission allowances which can be bought or sold from one another as needed.
Ireland’s target is to reduce ESR by 42pc by 2030 when compared to 2005 levels. However, 2024 GHG emissions were only 11pc below the 2005 level.
“Based on this assessment, both agriculture and transport each require significant reductions of 5.6pc and 15.5pc, respectively, in 2025 to meet their indicative percentage reduction targets,” said Dr Tomas Murray, a senior manager at the EPA.
“The national climate objective of a 51pc reduction by 2030 will be unattainable unless every sector meets their reduction target and sectoral ceiling.”
Ireland’s overall target is to reduce GHG emissions by 51pc in 2030 compared to 2018 levels. Last year, GHG emissions were only down 12pc compared to 2018.
A recent EPA analysis of emissions from ETS showed that GHG emissions from Irish power generation and industrial companies decreased by 7.4pc in 2024. However, this comes as the aviation industry’s emissions from within the European Economic Area to Ireland shot up by almost 17pc last year.
Last year, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland echoed the EPA’s words and said that more changes are still necessary if Ireland wishes to meet its climate targets.
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