Agricultural emissions decreased by 4.6%

The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) has welcomed the publication of the Climate Action Plan 2025 (CAP25), which shows the sector’s largest single-year decrease.

The recently published plan shows that agricultural emissions decreased by 4.6% in 2023 compared to 2022.

CAP25 is the third annual statutory update to Ireland’s Climate Action Plan under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021. It provides a roadmap for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030 and achieving climate neutrality by no later than 2050.

IFA Environment Chair John Murphy said, “The emissions reductions are primarily driven by farmers changing practices, which have resulted in an 18% reduction in inorganic nitrogen purchased by farmers, as well as increased use of lower-emission fertilisers (straight urea and protected urea).”

He said that farmers have already met the 2025 interim target for reducing inorganic nitrogen to 330,000 tonnes, with 310,411 tonnes sold in 2024.

“Other interim targets progressing well include the increased use of protected urea and organic farming adoption. There was a 39% increase in protected urea sales in 2024 compared with 2023. The total organic area increased to 220,000 ha in 2024, representing 5% of all utilisable agricultural land and nearing the 2025 target of 250,000 ha,” he said.

“Although good progress is being made, the total reduction from the 2018 baseline to 2023 is provisionally 2.9%, making the achievement of the 2030 target of a 25% reduction a significant challenge,” the IFA Environment Chair concluded.