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Ireland’s energy emissions are at the lowest rate in 30 years, but more needs to be done for Ireland to reach its legally binding climate targets, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has said.
According to a report from the SEAI, energy-related greenhouse gas emission from transport, electricity and heat fell 8.3% last year.
The data is promising, but the SEAI said Ireland will have to “increase the rate of change significantly” in order to meet emissions targets.
The SEAI is calling for energy use in carbon-intensive sectors to be strategically slowed and the deployment of more renewable energy, as well as energy efficiency technologies and practices, to be urgently sped up.
Ireland remains massively dependent on fossil fuels for heat, power and transport, however, with only minimal progress made in reducing reliance.
Overall, 82.7% of the country’s energy use came from oil, gas, coal and other solid fuels last year.
Some sectors were even more tightly tied to high-carbon, high-emission energy sources, the SEAI report shows.
Ireland’s total energy demand increased by 0.8% in 2023, led mainly by increased energy demand for transport (which rose by 4.5%) and from the commercial services sector (up 6.9%), which includes data centre demand.
The SEAI report cautioned that “there is no room for complacency” as, despite progress in 2023, early 2024 data suggests that energy emissions may go up in 2024.
This is due to a recorded increase in residential demand for gas and heating oil this year.
It is also likely that Ireland’s transport and electricity emissions will exceed their sectoral emission ceiling in the first carbon budget (2021-2025).
In Ireland, three carbon budgets have been set for 2021-2025, 2026-2030 and 2031-2035, with the overall aim to set Ireland on a pathway to climate neutrality by 2050.
Any emissions that exceed the first carbon budget are carried over into the second carbon budget, where they will need to be addressed by even more intensive policies and measures.
Speaking on the report, SEAI CEO William Walsh said that acting immediately to reduce emissions “is essential”.
“We can see already that concerted effort and actions deliver results. It’s not just the end goal of emission reductions by 2030 or 2050 that matter, but reducing our emissions each and every year, to comply with science-based carbon budgets and sectoral ceilings. These are our non-negotiables,” Walsh said.
Walsh added that thanks to Government support and the efforts of citizens and businesses over the last few years, “we are seeing progress”.
“Ireland has set a strong legal basis and significant momentum that we now must capitalise on. The incoming Government comes at a time where a re-doubling of effort could see us realising the urgent change needed in our shift away from fossil fuels,” Walsh said.
“The challenge seems difficult, but we must remind ourselves of the benefits if we succeed – cleaner air, less energy poverty, enhanced energy security, and a safer, habitable planet for our children.”
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Maybe because they polled people during the day and the working people were still ..ahem …. Stuck in traffic from work…. Collecting kids and feeding them …. Etc etc and only voted after all that was done.
@Peter Roche: during the day maybe… But in the morning plenty casting their vote before heading to work (as I did)
@Peter Roche: spot on. And 5000 people is f, all.
@P. V. Aglue: I know. 5000 seems very low alright. But that’s the sample for a population like ours. Thats what I remember from college anyway. But, it doesn’t work in a country like Ireland. Local issues have been the most important thing to those who voted this time, and in the past. All bar 2011 that is
@Peter Roche: well my polling area was, empty at 8pm. So guess that theory failed.
Techniques used by polling companies out dated and now redundant.
@Argus Romsworth: Absolutely
@Argus Romsworth: Rookie errors. Hope they give the fee back, they should ought to.
Polls were wrong, then I read “commissioned by RTE”, that explained everything. An organization that lied about it’s pay structure & corporate governance, getting things wrong, especially after a nearly Billion Euro Bailout, stinks.
@SV3tN8M4: why does it “stink” that they got an exit poll wrong? It can hardly have influenced the result. You’re a sh it stirrer
@SV3tN8M4: rotten to the core!!!
Was it really a low turnout?. We have 3 voters in our house but received 9 polling cards. Register is wildly inaccurate!
@Padraig O’Brien: good point, a lot of people would not have updated their current locations, and couldn’t be bothered to travel to their polling stations if far away
@Mike B: And some will have died or emigrated.
Lifted off twitter. Raw FPV v 2020 numbers. Also, stresses turn out down, but interesting reading nonetheless.
FF: 481,417 (-2,903)
FG: 458,134 (+2,550)
SF: 418,627 (-116,968)
SD: 106,028 (+42,624)
LAB: 102,457 (+6,869)
AON: 86,134 (+45,217)
GRN: 66,911 (-88,789)
PBP: 62,481 (+5,061)
@honey badger: wow how fascinating. This is absolutely riveting.
@Basildon Joe: Ha ha. Yer still ragin’ the monk was told to FO by the good people of his constituency!
@honey badger: Edge of your seat stuff
@honey badger: Just have to wonder how much of the FFG party’s electorate still be alive in 4/5 years time. The under 55s won’t stay away from the polling stations forever.
Hard luck SF pedos
@Trump24: A second election with a large vote share. As the now established largest opposition party history will tell you they will lead the government after the next cyclical downturn. It’s all but guaranteed. From a Fine Gael voter
@Argus Romsworth: They are finished people don’t want them its absolutely clear as a SF voter
@Trump24: what do people want?.500 billion spent on a hospital and 250k bike sheds it seems
Breaking News: Polling company makes excuses to try and sound relevant.
So they completely make a hames of the exit poll and blame the electorate.
They picked young voters to fill in sheet
Was out with two nephews Friday night they told me the votes Sinn Fein – I asked what was the candidates name they hadn’t a clue then asked name 3 Sinn fein tds – Mary Lou -Mary Lou and Mary Lou.
@Tim Brennan: did you then ask them the other politicians of different party’s names for balance.
@Colette Byrne: No balance required there grandfather would turn in his grave – they stupidly believe SF were going to hand them the keys of a house
Healy Raes in the reckoning for office.
Wishful thinking influencing people who are required to be impartial by moral law and professional integrity
The “Sinn Fein are traitors” campaign smashed any hope young people had of an alternative government. Any of those not in Australia or elsewhere decided not to vote or protest voted.
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