LAST UPDATE | 8 Jul

EMISSIONS FROM RESIDENTIAL buildings fell to their lowest level in over three decades last year – but Ireland is still way off achieving its 2030 target emissions reductions, a new report said.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its provisional greenhouse gas emissions 1990-2025 report today. The report compares last year’s emissions to those of the 1990 baseline.

Greenhouse gas emissions fell by 2.2% last year. It’s the third successive year recorded emissions were below the 1990 baseline, and the fourth successive year they have dropped.

The report found that all main sectors saw reductions last year.

In residential, commercial, and public buildings, there was a 4.7% drop in emissions. The EPA attributed this drop to a warmer winter and a decreased use of fossil fuels, noting in its key findings that energy use by heat pumps increased 21.9%.

Emissions from energy generation hit a 36-year low last year, as renewable energy and imported energy grew.

There was a small decrease in agricultural emissions (0.2%), partially due to a 3.3% reduction in the cattle herd, the EPA said, although it noted this was offset to some degree by a 12.7% increase in fertiliser nitrogen.

Emissions from the transport sector fell by 1.5%. The EPA pointed to a 14.9% increase in biofuels – combustible fuel derived from organic matter – as the main reason for the reduction, although the growing number of electric vehicles “curtailed emissions growth” that may have come about from an increased national vehicle fleet and a growing workforce.

Provisionally, Ireland is under its first carbon budget, it said – but transport and energy exceeded their sectoral ceilings by 8.1% and 9.1% respectively.

The sustained drop in emissions is not sufficient to become compliant with national and EU climate targets, which the EPA said will be “very challenging” to meet. Ireland’s national target is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 51% from 2018 to 2030. As of 2025, the reduction is 14.5%.

Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien said that as “we continue our efforts to transform Ireland’s economy to a climate-neutral one, it is very encouraging to see that emissions have continued to fall for the fourth year in a row”.

O’Brien added that he is “pleased to see that the provisional inventory shows that we have successfully achieved the first carbon budget”.

A carbon budget is the total amount of emissions, measured in tonnes of CO2 equivalent, that may be emitted during a specific time period.

It sets a ceiling on the maximum amount of greenhouse gas emissions that are permitted in each sector of the economy during a carbon budget period and Ireland’s carbon budgets were approved by the government in 2022.

But while Ireland will be close to meeting its first carbon budget covering the period from 2021-2025, nearly all sectors are on track to exceed their sectoral emissions ceilings for the second carbon budget for 2026-2030.

The transport and industry sectors are projected to be the furthest from achieving their sectoral emission ceilings in 2030.

Meanwhile, O’Brien remarked that “now is the time to continue our efforts right across Government” and that preparations are currently underway for the next update to the Climate Action Plan.

Elsewhere, the EPA’s director general Dr Eimear Cotter said the overall drop in emissions is welcome, particularly with a growing economy and population.

“However, with just four years to 2030, Ireland needs to accelerate delivery and achieve much deeper annual reductions to meet our climate targets.”

Cotter said “clear prioritisation” and investment can deliver further reductions. Low-carbon choices should be made practical, affordable, and attractive, she added.