Agricultural emissions were down 2.6% (-129 kt CO2 eq) in the first quarter of 2024 due to reduced lime application to soils and lower milk output.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today (Tuesday, October 22) published quarterly greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for Ireland for Quarter 1, 2024.
This is a new series of quarterly indicators which will support early and more frequent monitoring of progress on climate action.
The data show an overall reduction of 2.2% in the first three months of 2024 compared to the same quarter last year.
EPA report on emissions
The largest sectoral decrease in emissions was observed in electricity generation with a reduction of 16.7% (-312 kt CO2 eq).
Reductions were also observed in the agricultural (-2.6%, -129 kt CO2 eq) and industrial (-4.7%t, -69 kt CO2 eq) sectors.
Emissions reduced in agriculture as a result of reduced limestone sales for application to agricultural land (due to adverse weather conditions), and a decline in methane associated with reduced milk output (-7.7% compared to 2023 Q1), according to the EPA.
The report stated that total cattle numbers increased by 4.5%, however dairy cattle decreased by 0.7%.
Welcoming the report, director of the Office of Evidence and Assessment at the EPA, Dr. Eimear Cotter said: “These quarterly greenhouse gas emissions respond to an ongoing need for more timely and frequent data on Ireland’s greenhouse gases.
“Ireland joins a small number of countries worldwide to carry out this type of assessment, which will provide valuable early and frequent indicator data for the monitoring and governance of Ireland’s climate action.
“The series will complement the national greenhouse gas inventory and projections prepared annually by the EPA.
“The reduction of 2.2 per cent in Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions in the first quarter
of 2024, when compared with the same period last year, is welcome following the
largest annual reduction in emissions outside of recession reported in 2023.”
Cotter said that the results show that Ireland can make progress in reducing GHG emissions when concerted action is taken.
An increase in GHG emissions for transport (+2.7 %), commercial (+4.1%) and residential buildings (+6.1%) in Quarter 1, 2024 shows the clear link between increased energy demand, largely delivered by fossil fuels, and GHG emissions, according to the EPA.
Also speaking about the results, programme manager of EPA’s Climate Programme, Mary Frances Rochford said: “These findings signal the continued impact of climate action and decarbonisation measures across Ireland’s economy and society.
“The assessment on a quarterly basis also highlights the impact of market prices and weather conditions.
“We see reduced emissions from the electricity sector linked to increased renewables and interconnection, increases in emissions from heating associated with lower fuel price and cooler temperatures than Quarter 1, 2023.
“Poor weather conditions also impacted lime application to soils which led to lower emissions from the agriculture sector,” she said.