Emission reduction targets ‘extremely difficult’, warns environmental agency

It will be “extremely difficult” to meet reduction targets to stay within Ireland’s carbon budget, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency has warned.

The latest EPA figures show Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions decreased by just 1.9% in 2022.

The fall was driven by higher fuel prices, increased renewable energy, behavioural change and regulation.

It means 47% of Ireland’s carbon budget for 2021-25 has been used in the first two years.

The agency said an extremely challenging annual reduction of 12.4% is required for each of the remaining years if Ireland is to stay within the budget.

Speaking to RTE radio, EPA director-general Laura Burke said: “If you look at the (12.4%) reduction, that would be higher than we’ve achieved previously in Ireland, even during the recession.”

The EPA found that power generation emissions decreased by 1.9% last year due to a reduction in coal, oil and peat use and more renewable energy.

Agriculture emissions fell by 1.2%, driven by reduced fertiliser use which offset the impact of an increase in livestock numbers.

Residential emissions decreased by 12.7%, influenced by the impact of higher fuel prices, new regulations that ban the use of smoky fuel and milder weather.

However, transport emissions increased by 6% as the the rebound to pre-pandemic levels continued.

The agency said current decarbonisation actions are being outpaced by increased energy demand across the economy and dependence on fossil fuels for energy generation.

It warned that a growing economy, with high employment, will continue to produce emissions if cleaner and alternatives sources of energy are not used.