EPA - Ireland's Environment, An Integrated Assessment - 2020

Chapter 3: Air Quality Progress against the emission ceiling target Figure 3.5 shows ammonia emissions by sector. Ireland’s national emission ceiling for ammonia under the NEC Directive is 116 kilotonnes, to be achieved by 2010 and in each year up to and including 2019. The emissions of ammonia complied with the 2010 NEC Directive ceiling for the years 2010-2015; however, Ireland exceeded the emission ceiling in the years 2016-2018. Current projections show Ireland’s ammonia emissions exceeding the reduction commitments for 2020 and, without further measures, in 2030 and the intervening years. Key steps towards achieving the target The agriculture sector accounts for virtually all (99%) of ammonia emissions in Ireland. Limiting and reducing ammonia emissions in the future could be problematic given the strong performance of the agriculture sector, in line with the ambitious targets of Food Wise 2025 (DAFM, 2015) and the current discussions on the agri-food strategy to 2030. There is now an immediate requirement for focused implementation of abatement measures at the farm level. These measures include the use of low- emission manure-spreading techniques and the use of urea fertiliser products that include urease inhibitors. Furthermore, increases in nutrient use efficiencies at farm level through improvements in soil fertility and soil pH levels should lead to the more optimum use of manures and synthetic fertilisers. Figure 3.5  Total ammonia emissions and projected emission figures (Source: EPA) Projections kilotonnes NH 3 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 Dairy Cattle Other Cattle Other Livestock Road Transport Other N-excreted on Pasture Direct Soils Residential & Commercial NEC 2010-2019 Ceiling 2020-2029 Reduction Commitment 2030 Reduction Commitment 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2020 2025 2030 Particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) Overview: Particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) emissions are linked to the combustion of fuels in the residential sector, road transport, construction works and industry. In addition, particulate matter can be formed from reactions between different pollutant gases. Fine particulate matter, PM 2.5 , is associated with significant negative impacts on human health, including acute and chronic respiratory illnesses and cardiovascular diseases (Kim et al. , 2017). Progress against the emission ceiling target The NEC Directive sets out new national emission reduction commitments for PM 2.5 that are applicable from 2020 to 2029 and from 2030 onwards. These new reduction commitments are relative to the emissions in 2005. Key steps towards achieving the target Future trends in PM 2.5 emissions depend largely on solid fuel combustion in the residential sector. Current projections estimate that Ireland will be compliant with 2020 and 2030 reduction commitments. 69