Thurles Information

• Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 2 per cent (-1.1 Mt CO2eq) in 2024.

• All sectors, except heating of homes and buildings, saw reductions in 2024:

1. Energy industries emissions decreased by 8.9 per cent (-0.7 Mt CO2eq).
2. Agriculture emissions decreased by 1.7 per cent (-0.4 Mt CO2eq).
3. Transport emissions decreased by 1.2 per cent (-0.1 Mt CO2eq).
4. Industry emissions decreased by 4.6 per cent (-0.3 Mt CO2eq).
5. Heating of homes and buildings increased by 5.6 per cent (+0.4 Mt CO2eq).

• Despite the overall reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, compliance with national commitments and EU targets will be extremely challenging:

1. Ireland’s national target is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 51 per cent in 2030 compared to 2018 levels. In 2024, greenhouse gas emissions were 12 per cent below 2018 levels.
2. Ireland’s EU target is a 42% reduction in emissions from key sectors including agriculture, transport, and buildings by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. In 2024, greenhouse gas emissions were 11 per cent below 2005 levels.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its provisional greenhouse gas emissions for Ireland for 2024. The figures show a reduction of 2% or 1.1 Mt CO2eq compared to 2023, with emission reductions in almost all sectors – except for heating of homes and buildings.
In total, 54 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2eq) were emitted, excluding emissions from Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF).

Commenting on the report Ms Laura Burke, Director General, EPA said: “Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions have declined for three years in a row. These important findings underscore the effectiveness of climate action and implementation of decarbonisation strategies across our economy and society. We’re seeing the tangible benefits from sectors like electricity, with more renewables and interconnection; and transport, with a notable increase in biofuel use in our vehicles.”
She added, “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. For example, if Ireland is to meet our first carbon budget, a further 10 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is needed in 2025, which will be extremely challenging.”

In terms of EU targets, the assessment shows that Ireland exceeded its EU Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR) commitments in 2024, even with the use of flexibilities. 2024 greenhouse gas emissions were 11% below 2005 levels, well short of Ireland’s EU Effort Sharing reduction commitment of 42% by 2030.
Regarding compliance with national climate commitments, the assessment shows that greenhouse gas emissions (including LULUCF) are 12% lower than in 2018, far off the national climate ambition of a 51% reduction by 2030.

A summary of the trends from key sectors:
Energy Industries: Emissions from energy industries decreased for the third consecutive year by 8.9% in 2024 to an all-time low of 7.2 Mt CO2eq. This was due to the large share of energy generation coming from renewables (39.6%) in combination with an increase in the share of imported electricity (14% of electricity supply in 2024 compared to 9.5% in 2023). 2024 was also the first year that peat was not used in electricity generation in Ireland since the first sod peat-fired power station in Portarlington began operations in 1950.
Agriculture: Agriculture emissions decreased by 1.7% or 0.3 Mt CO2eq in 2024. This was primarily due to a 2.9% reduction in cattle numbers. In contrast there was a 10.6 % increase in nitrogen fertiliser use.
Transport: This is first post-COVID decrease in transport emissions. There was a 1.2 % or 0.14 Mt CO2eq decrease in 2024, after having increased by approximately 6% in both 2021 and 2022, and by 0.3%in 2023. In particular, the increased use of biofuels slowed growth in emissions in this sector despite increases in the number of vehicles and a growing workforce.
Industry: Manufacturing Combustion and Industrial Processes emissions decreased by 4.6% to 6.0 Mt CO2eq in 2024 due to declines in coal and oil usage. Total emissions from the cement sector decreased by 15.6% or 0.4 Mt CO2eq in line with a reduction in clinker production.
Buildings (Residential, Commercial and Public): Emissions from buildings increased by 5.6% due to a colder winter and increased use of fossil fuels. In the Residential sector, this increase follows two consecutive years where emissions from homes have been at their lowest point since 1990.

Commenting, Dr Tomas Murray, Senior Manager, EPA said: “There are positives to be taken from this assessment given the declines in emissions observed across key sectors. However, some sectors face greater challenges to decarbonise than others. In particular, based on this assessment, both Agriculture and Transport each require significant reductions of 5.6 and 15.5%, respectively, in 2025 to meet their indicative percentage reduction targets. The national climate objective of a 51% reduction by 2030 will be unattainable unless every sector meets their reduction target and sectoral ceiling.”

The Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory 1990 to 2024 is available on the EPA website and the EPA Greenhouse Gas web resource is also available online.