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Ireland’s Environment 2012
24
Sectoral Sources of GHGs
in Ireland
The sectoral breakdown of Ireland’s
GHG emissions between 1990 and
2010 is shown in Figure 2.4. The
single largest contributor to overall
emissions in Ireland is Agriculture
at 30.5% of the total. Energy and
Transport are the second and third
largest contributors, at 21.8% and
18.9% respectively. The remainder is
made up by Industry and Commercial
at 14.6%, Residential at 12.7% and
Waste at 1.4%.
Agriculture
Emissions from agriculture reached
a peak in 1998 and have decreased
to below their 1990 level in recent
years. This reflects a long-term
decline in cattle population and in
fertiliser use, due largely to the EU
Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
2010 saw a substantial increase
in nitrous oxide emissions due to
increased fertiliser sales (up 18%
on 2009). The increase in nitrous
oxide emissions was offset by the
continuing decline in total cattle and
sheep numbers in 2010, while swine
numbers have increased relative
to 2009 levels. Ireland’s position
within the EU as the country with
the highest national proportion of
agriculture emissions will present
major challenges in limiting emissions
and meeting future targets.
Energy Generation
Power generation is the most
significant source of energy sector
emissions. Since the mid-1990s,
Ireland’s population growth has
been significantly greater than the
EU average. This growth and the
consequent increase in the number
of households placed greater
demands on energy for heating
and electricity, which to a large
extent, are fossil-fuel-based. Since
2001 the efficiency of electricity
generation has improved through the
displacement of coal and oil with less
carbon-intensive fuels such as natural
gas, and the greater penetration of
renewable energy. Emissions in 2010
were 1.9% higher than in 2009.
While the overall trend has been
towards increased renewable energy
share in total electricity production,
wind and hydro resources were less
in 2010, which resulted in more
electricity generation from coal and
gas-fired power stations.
Transport
The transport sector was the fastest
growing source of greenhouse gas
emissions in Ireland over the period
1990–2007 with transport emissions
127% higher in 2007 compared
with 1990. However, transport
emissions have decreased by 20%
since 2007. The decrease primarily
reflects the impact of the economic
downturn plus the changes in
vehicle registration tax and road tax
introduced in mid-2008. In addition,
the Biofuels Obligation Scheme
started operation in mid-2010, with
biofuels displacing petrol and diesel
use in the transport sector.
Industry
Emissions in 2010 from the
Industry
and Commercial
sector were 0.8%
lower than in 2009. There was a
substantial increase in 2010 in CO
2
,
primarily from the alumina industry
which was offset by the continuing
decline in the production of cement.
In particular, reports from the EU
Emissions Trading Scheme show that
emissions from the cement sector
peaked in 2007 and have decreased
by 55% between 2007 and 2010.
Responses
The National Climate Change
Strategy (DEHLG, 2007), which
updates the 2001 strategy, sets out
a plan for how Ireland can meet its
GHG emissions limitation under the
Kyoto Protocol through action at
the sector level. It also highlights the
need to advance actions to adapt to
adverse impacts of climate change.
To date policies have focused on
mitigation. A range of EPA funded
research projects have looked at
both mitigation and at climate
Figure 2.4
Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Sector (Source: EPA)
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
kilotonnes CO
2
eq.
Energy
Residential
Industry & Commercial
Agriculture
Transport
Waste