The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Ireland has reported a 2.2% decrease in the country’s greenhouse gas emissions in the first quarter of this year, compared to the same period in 2023. Significant reductions were observed in sectors such as electricity, industry, and agriculture.
The decrease in emissions from the electricity sector, reaching 16.7% or 312 kilotonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (kt CO2 eq), was due to a decrease in fossil fuel usage and an increase in imported electricity via interconnectors. Frequently, emissions are categorised in terms of CO2 equivalents, with one tonne equivalent to either driving a petrol-powered car for 5,000 miles or powering 0.65 average households for a year.
Agricultural emissions also saw a reduction of 2.6% or 129 kt CO2 eq. This was largely due to diminished lime usage on soils and a decrease in milk production, exacerbated by adverse weather conditions.
On the other hand, transport emissions rose by 2.7% (78.2 kt CO2 eq), primarily as a result of a 9.6% increase in petrol sales and a 1.3% increase in diesel sales. There was also a 5.8% rise (126 kt CO2 eq) in emissions from commercial and residential buildings, attributed to increased heating needs and a drop in gas prices.
Industrial emissions experienced a decrease, with a 4.7% reduction (69 kt CO2 eq). Eimear Cotter, the Director of the EPA Office of Evidence and Assessment, noted the importance of these quarterly assessments in monitoring Ireland’s progress towards climate action targets.
Ireland is one of the few nations that conducts such frequent analyses, in addition to annual greenhouse gas inventory preparations by the EPA. The observed 2.2% quarterly reduction was a positive development, following the largest yearly reduction recorded in 2023, outside of recession periods. As Dr Cotter emphasised, these results demonstrate the potential for significant progress when dedicated efforts are made to cut emissions.
The rise in emissions from transport, commercial and residential infrastructures is directly linked to heightened energy demands, which are largely catered to by fossil fuels, indicated the manager of EPA Climate Programme, Mary Frances Rochford. The evidence emphasises the ongoing effects of climate action and decarbonising initiatives throughout Irish economics and societal sectors. Regular quarterly reviews also underline the influence of market costs and climatic circumstances.
Rochford pointed out the emission augmentation derived from heating due to the combination of decreased fuel costs and colder weather, compared to the first quarter of 2023. Furthermore, adverse weather conditions hindered the application of lime to soil, resulting in a reduction of emissions from the agricultural industry.