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Emissions falling, but not fast enough – EPA

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has warned that reductions in greenhouse gases recorded last year are not big enough to achieve Ireland's legally binding targets. 

In its latest report, the EPA says that Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 2% last year – the third annual drop in a row. 

There were falls in all sectors except heating of homes and buildings, where emissions rose by 5.6%.  

The EPA attributed the rise to a colder winter and increased use of fossil fuels.

Renewables boost 

Emissions from energy industries were down 8.9%, as the renewable-energy share of the market rose to almost 40%, and industrial emissions dropped by 4.6%, boosted by lower coal and oil usage. 

There were smaller falls, however, in agriculture (1.7%) and transport (1.2%). The drop in the transport sector, however, followed two years of increases. 

Despite the overall reduction, the EPA warned compliance with national commitments and EU targets would be “extremely challenging”. 

Falls ‘not at necessary pace’ 

Under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021, emissions must fall by 51% from the 2018 baseline figure. In 2024, greenhouse-gas emissions were 12% below 2018 levels. 

Ireland’s EU target under the EU Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR) is a 42% reduction in emissions from key sectors – including agriculture, transport, and buildings – by 2030 compared with 2005 levels. In 2024, greenhouse gas emissions were 11% below 2005 levels. 

Laura Burke (director general, EPA) said that Ireland was seeing “tangible benefits” from decarbonisation strategies in sectors such as electricity generation and transport. 

“While the 2024 data is moving in the right direction in terms of reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, it is not at the necessary scale and pace to achieve our EU targets or the national climate commitments,” she warned. 

“For example, if Ireland is to meet our first carbon budget, a further 10% reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions is needed in 2025, which will be extremely challenging,” Burke added.