Ireland Cuts Emissions – But Not Fast Enough, Says EPA

Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions fell by 2% last year – the third year in a row of decline – but the drop still isn’t steep enough to meet national and EU climate targets, according to new figures from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

A total of 54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent were emitted in 2024 (excluding land use and forestry), down 1.1 million tonnes from 2023. Emissions were down in nearly all sectors – except home heating, which spiked due to a colder winter and continued reliance on fossil fuels.

EPA Director General Laura Burke welcomed the progress but issued a stark warning: “We’re moving in the right direction, but not fast enough. A further 10% cut is needed in 2025 to stay on track. That will be extremely challenging.”

Key takeaways from the 2024 data:

• Electricity sector hits record low emissions: Down nearly 9% thanks to more wind and solar, plus higher electricity imports. For the first time since 1950, no peat was burned for power in Ireland.
• Transport emissions fall: A 1.2% drop – the first decline since before COVID – with biofuels helping offset rising vehicle numbers.
• Agriculture dips slightly: Emissions fell 1.7%, mainly due to a fall in cattle numbers, though fertiliser use surged by over 10%.
• Industry cleans up: Industrial emissions dropped 4.6%, with the cement sector down more than 15% due to reduced production.
• Buildings backslide: Emissions from homes and commercial buildings rose 5.6% after two years of record lows.

Despite progress, Ireland missed its EU 2024 emissions target – falling just 11% below 2005 levels, far short of the 42% cut needed by 2030. Nationally, emissions are now 12% lower than 2018, but that still leaves a massive gap to the legally binding 51% reduction required by the end of the decade.

EPA Senior Manager Dr Tomás Murray said: “Every sector must deliver. Agriculture and Transport, in particular, face huge 2025 cuts of 5.6% and 15.5% if we are to stay within our carbon budget.”

The full greenhouse gas inventory and breakdowns by sector are available on the EPA website.