Ireland's State of the Environment Report 2024

89 Chapter 4: Climate Change 4. Greenhouse gas emissions trends and projections Greenhouse gas emissions trends Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions have decreased by 1.2% since 1990. In 2023, greenhouse gas emissions (excluding land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF)) are estimated to have been 55.00 Mt CO 2 eq. This is 6.8% lower (or 4.00 Mt CO 2 eq) than emissions in 2022 (59.00 Mt CO 2 eq). Emissions in 2023 were 7.9% lower than pre-pandemic 2019 figures (EPA, 2024b). Figure 4.5 shows the annual increases and decreases in national total emissions (excluding LULUCF) since 1990, with the largest decreases evident following the 2008 financial crisis and subsequent recession. Although 2023 represented the largest single-year reduction in emissions outside a recessionary period, Ireland has yet to see the sustained and substantial annual decreases in emissions, as a result of greenhouse gas emission mitigation measures, that will be required to meet Ireland’s national targets and international obligations. Ireland is one of the highest per capita emitters of greenhouse gases in the EU. Emissions per capita decreased from 11.4 tonnes CO 2 equivalent per person in 2022 to 10.4 tonnes CO 2 equivalent per person in 2023 (Figure 4.6). With recent Central Statistics Office (2024) population projections indicating an increased population of 5.2-5.6 million in 2031, per capita emissions will need to reduce significantly in order to meet emissions reduction targets. Figure 4.5  Interannual changes in national greenhouse gas emissions, 1990-2023 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 2020 2015 2010 2005 2000 1995 1990 Million tonnes CO 2 equivalent Source: EPA, 2024b Figure 4.6  Comparative per capita greenhouse gas emissions 10.4 tonnes 5.4 tonnes 13.3 tonnes Irish per capita emissions, 2023 European Union per capita emissions, 2022 USA per capita emissions, 2022 = 1 greenhouse gas tonne