Ireland's State of the Environment Report 2024

44 Chapter 2: Air 3. Emissions and national emission reduction commitments National emissions of air pollutants Total annual national emission levels of five air pollutants are subject to emission reduction commitments specified in the NEC Directive. The pollutants are NO x , non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), SO 2 , NH 3 and PM 2.5 . Ireland has seen substantial reductions in the emissions of all pollutants except NH 3 , which have increased over the last 30 years (see Figure 2.6). Despite this progress, challenges remain in maintaining a decreasing trend in the face of increasing economic activity, particularly in relation to emissions from the transport and agriculture sectors. Figure 2.6  Percentage change in the five air pollutants covered by the NEC Directive, 1990-2022 -100% -80% -60% -40% -20% 0% 20% ˜ Sulphur dioxide ˜ Fine particulate matter ˜ Nitrogen oxides ˜ Non-methane volatile organic compounds ˜ Ammonia -94.9% -62.8% -46.4% -28.7% 11% Source: EPA, 2024a The reduction commitment for each pollutant is a proportional reduction in emissions relative to the reported national emissions in 2005. These emission reduction commitments are in force for the period 2020- 2029 and then from 2030 onwards (Table 2.2). Table 2.2  National emission reduction commitments for 2020-2029 and 2030 onwards Pollutant 2020 2030 Sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ) -65% -85% Nitrogen oxides (NO x ) -49% -69% Ammonia (NH 3 ) -1% -5% Non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) -25% -32% Particulate matter < 2.5μm (PM 2.5 ) -18% -41% Source: EPA, 2024a Ammonia. NH 3 emissions are associated with nitrogen deposition, acid rain and the formation of secondary particulate matter. The agriculture sector accounts for virtually all (99.4%) NH 3 emissions in Ireland (Figure 2.7). Figure 2.7  Sources of ammonia emissions in Ireland 27.7% 7.9% 12.2% 40.4% 11.2% 0.1% 0.2% 0.4% OTHER Source: EPA, 2024a Ireland’s national emission reduction commitment for NH 3 for 2020-2029 under the NEC Directive is a 1% reduction compared with the 2005 baseline level. As emissions in 2020, 2021 and 2022 were, respectively, 3.2%, 4.2% and 3.0% higher than in 2005, Ireland is currently one of eight Member States that is not compliant with its emission reduction commitment for 2020-2029 (EEA, 2024). Ireland was served with an infringement notice in January 2023 and a reasoned opinion in November 2023 by the European Commission for failing to meet its emission reduction commitments under the NEC Directive. Polices and measures contained in national plans indicate that compliance can be achieved over the coming years (Department of Agriculture, Food and the