Ireland's State of the Environment Report 2024

253 Chapter 10: Environment and Agriculture Ireland’s national emission reduction commitment for ammonia for 2020-2029 under the National Emission Reduction Commitments (NEC) Directive (EU 2016/2284) was a 1% reduction compared with a 2005 baseline level. As emissions in 2020, 2021 and 2022 were 3.2%, 4.2% and 3.0% higher, respectively, than the baseline level, Ireland is non-compliant with the emission reduction commitment for 2020-2029. Ireland has not met international emissions commitments for the majority of years over the last decade. In 2023, the European Commission consequently served Ireland with an infringement notice for non-compliance with the directive. 4 Projections of ammonia emissions suggest that achieving the 2030 emission reduction commitment is possible if all measures are adopted, which will require significant policy levers (EPA 2024d). These measures include reductions in chemical fertiliser use, increased use of protected urea, and increased use of low-emission slurry systems. 4 ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/EN/inf_23_142 (accessed 31 May 2024). Agriculture is also a source of a number of other transboundary air pollutants, including nitrogen oxides (NO x ), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) and particulate matter, which have local, regional and transboundary effects. While the contribution of agriculture is smaller than other sources, for example power generation, transport and residential fuel combustion, the sector nevertheless has a role to play in reducing these pollutants. NO x and NMVOCs are associated with synthetic fertiliser application, urine and dung deposited by grazing animals, and the application of manures to soils. Agriculture is the second largest source of NO x emissions in Ireland (after transport), contributing 36.4% of the total in 2022, and the largest source of NMVOC emissions, accounting for 39.1% of the national total in 2022. There are national emission reduction targets in place for each of these pollutants. Ireland was compliant with the 2020 emission reduction commitment for NO x and, after adjustment with flexibility mechanisms, for NMVOCs (EPA, 2024d). Grazing in the Burren.