Ireland's State of the Environment Report 2024

252 Chapter 10: Environment and Agriculture The agriculture sector is also a significant contributor to emissions attributed to the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector. The LULUCF sector is a net source of emissions in Ireland, in contrast to many EU Member States, where the LULUCF sector is a net remover of CO 2 from the atmosphere. This is as a result of the drainage of grasslands on organic/peaty soils and the exploitation of peat for energy and horticultural uses. Approximately 8% of the Irish grassland area is underlain by organic/peaty soils and is therefore a source of greenhouse gas emissions. Recent research by Teagasc (Tuohy et al ., 2023) suggests that not all of these grassland soils are effectively drained in practice, which has led to a revision of emission estimates in the most recent national emission inventory estimates. Further research being conducted by the National Agricultural Soil Carbon Observatory 2 will lead to further refinements to emission estimates in future agriculture sector emission inventories. Land and soil are discussed in more detail in Chapters 5 and 6. The LULUCF Regulation ((EU) 2018/841) was revised in 2023 and has set land-based net carbon removal targets for the EU that must be implemented via national reduction targets. 2 www.teagasc.ie/environment/climate-change--air-quality/soil-carbon/national-agricultural-soil-carbon-observatory (accessed 2 September 2024). 3 One kilo tonne (kt) is 1,000 tonnes. Meanwhile, meeting Ireland’s 2050 climate neutrality ambition will necessitate the land sector becoming a strong net remover of CO 2 from the atmosphere (Haughey et al ., 2023). The implied land transformation and farm diversification, including substantial afforestation within Ireland’s grassland-dominated landscape, water table management and restoration of peat soils, will require consistent and sustained action through time, guided by a strategic vision for the agriculture and land use sector. Ammonia and other air pollutants The agriculture sector is the largest source of ammonia in Ireland (Figure 10.6), accounting for 99% of the national total in 2022 (EPA, 2024c). Total national emissions in 2022 were 128.6 kilo tonnes 3 , which is above the current national emission reduction commitment. The trends in ammonia emissions are similar to those of other gaseous emissions from the sector, as they are largely determined by the size of the national cattle herd and the amounts and type of nitrogen fertiliser applied. Figure 10.6  Trends in ammonia emissions from agriculture, 1990–2022 ˜ Dairy cattle ˜ Non-dairy cattle ˜ Sheep ˜ Swine ˜ Goats ˜ Horses ˜ Mules and asses ˜ Poultry ˜ Other animals ˜ Inorganic N-fertilisers ˜ Animal manure applied to soils ˜ Sewage sludge applied to soils ˜ Urine and dung deposited by grazing animals Year Kt NH 3 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 2022 2020 2018 2016 2014 2012 2010 2008 2006 2004 2002 2000 1998 1996 1994 1992 1990 Source: EPA, 2024c