6. Energy and climate

Key data

(2016)

GHG emissions without LULUCF*: 61.5 MtCO2-eq, +11% since 1990, -11% since 2005 GHG emissions with LULUCF*: 66.5 MtCO2-eq, +7% since 1990, -12% since 2005

Energy-related CO2 emissions

CO2 emissions from fuel combustion: 37 MtCO , +22% since 1990, -17% since 2005 CO2 emissions by fuel: oil 49.6%, natural gas 26.1%, coal 14.8%, peat 8.8%, other 0.7%

CO2 emissions by sector: power and heat generation 33.8%, transport 32.3%, residential 15.9%, industry 10.7%, commercial 6.3%, other energy industries 1.0%

CO2 intensity: 0.13 kgCO2/USD GDP** (IEA average 0.24 kgCO2/USD)

*Land use, land-use change and forestry.

**In 2010 USD and PPP (purchasing power parity).

Overview

Ireland is not on track to meet its statutory 2020 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction target of 20% below the 2005 level. By 2016, GHG emissions had decreased by 11%. But with expectations for strong economic growth and a related increase in fossil fuel consumption, Ireland is expected to reduce emissions by just 1% from 2005 to 2020 (EPA, 2018a). However, the impact of the new policies, measures and funding put in place by the Irish government since the beginning of 2017 have not yet been taken into consideration. These may potentially narrow the gap between the projections and the target values. In the long term, Ireland is committed to an aggregate emissions reduction of at least 80% (compared to the 1990 level) by 2050 in the electricity, building and transport sectors and to achieve carbon neutrality in the agriculture and land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF).

Ireland’s total GHG emissions, excluding LULUCF, were 61.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2-eq) in 2016. GHG emissions grew by 25% from 1990 to 2005, but then decreased significantly after the 2008 financial crisis (Figure 6.1). However, since 2014, Irish GHG emissions have been growing again across all sectors. The energy sector, which includes transport and energy-related industry emissions, represents 62% of the total GHG emissions. Agriculture is the single largest contributor to Ireland’s overall GHG emissions, accounting for 31% of the total GHG emissions in 2016 compared to 20% from the energy sector. Ireland’s GHG profile is unique among

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