Ireland's State of the Environment Report 2024

45 Chapter 2: Air Marine Ag Climatise, 4 Teagasc marginal abatement cost curve 5 and the Climate Action Plan (DECC, 2024) for example) should the uptake of abatement techniques be substantial. Techniques include low-emission slurry spreading, use of inhibited fertiliser products, and reductions in the crude protein concentration of livestock feeds. Ammonia is further discussed in Chapter 10. Non-methane volatile organic compounds. NMVOCs are emitted as gases from a wide array of products including paints, paint strippers, glues, cleaning agents and adhesives. They also arise as a product of incomplete combustion of fuels, from the storage and handling of animal manure and fertilisers in agriculture, and from the food and beverage industry (Figure 2.8). Figure 2.8  Sources of non-methane volatile organic compounds emissions in Ireland 39.1% 28.2% 2.7% 7.3% 0.2% 18.7% 2.6% 0.8% OTHER 0.3% Source: EPA, 2024a In terms of Ireland’s national emission reduction commitment for NMVOCs, the NEC Directive has a flexibility mechanism that allows Member States to make an adjustment to their national inventory estimates for compliance purposes (Article 5(1)). This is allowed when non-compliance with national emission reduction commitments would result from applying improved emission inventory methods that have been updated in accordance with scientific knowledge. This flexibility ensures that countries are not penalised for updating estimates with information that could not have been envisaged when the emission reduction commitments were agreed in 2012. Ireland was non- compliant with national emission reduction commitments for NMVOCs for 2022 as a result of applying improved 4 www.gov.ie/en/publication/07fbe-ag-climatise-a-roadmap-towards-climate-neutrality/ (accessed 28 May 2024). 5 www.teagasc.ie/media/website/publications/2020/NH3-Ammonia-MACC.pdf (accessed 28 May 2024). emission inventory methods that consist of using more up-to-date emission factors and recognising new sources of emissions. When the flexibility mechanism adjustment is made, Ireland will be compliant with the emission reduction commitment for NMVOCs for 2020, 2021 and 2022. There has been significant expansion in whiskey production over recent years. With respect to the 2030 emission reduction commitment, it is projected that Ireland will be non-compliant. However, under the scenario in which emissions from spirit production are not included in the 2030 emission reduction commitment, as is currently the case for 2020-2029, compliance is expected. The adjustment to exclude spirit production is subject to annual review and approval by the European Commission. Nitrogen oxides. NO x contribute to the acidification of soils and surface waters, ground-level O 3 formation and excess nitrogen or saturation in terrestrial ecosystems. The principal sources of NO x come from agriculture (as a result of using both organic and synthetic nitrogen- containing fertilisers) and fossil fuel combustion in the power generation and transport sectors (Figure 2.9). For the purposes of assessing compliance with the emission reduction commitments for this pollutant, emissions from agriculture are not included. Ireland is currently compliant with the emission reduction commitment for NO x for the period 2020-2029 and is also projected to be compliant with the 2030 reduction commitment. Figure 2.9  Sources of emissions of nitrogen oxides in Ireland 0.5% 8.1% 8.8% 7.4% 4.0% 34.8% 36.4% OTHER Source: EPA, 2024a