Ireland's GHG Emissions

Agriculture remains the single largest contributor to the overall emissions at 32.1% of the total. Energy and Transport are the second and third largest contributors at 21.9% and 18.8% respectively. The remainder is made up by the Industry and Commercial at 14.7%, Residential sector at 10.7% and Waste at 1.8% (EPA, 2013). The graph below illustrates the trend in these GHG emissions over the period 1990-2012, where it can be seen that there is evidence of a downward trend over most sectors.

Residential energy consumption is an important subsector when considering Ireland 's GHG emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions from the Residential sector are 5.9% lower (0.39 Mt CO2eq) in 2012 compared with 2011 levels. This reflects higher than average temperatures in 2012 with consequently lower heat demand from households. Kerosene and peat use decreased by 15% and 11% respectively in 2012 whereas coal and natural gas use in homes increased by 4% and 5% respectively (EPA, 2013).  

Waste production is an important source of CH4 emissions. This is mainly due to the conditions of landfill sites, which are still the principal means of waste disposal in Ireland . Emissions from the Waste sector, primarily methane gas released from landfills, amounted to 1.02 Mt CO2eq in 2012 and showed a 2.7% decrease from 1.05 Mt CO2eq in 2011. This reflects an 11.7% reduction in methane emitted at landfill sites in 2012. However, emissions from incineration increased by 0.07 Mt of CO2eq in 2012 which reflects the first full year of commercial incineration at Indaver Ireland’s Carranstown, Co. Meath site (EPA, 2013).

Industrial and commercial emissions increased between 1994 and 2001 to a peak of 12.55 Mt, but then decreased steadily to a 20-year low of 9.25Mt in 2009. However, between 2011 and 2012 Industry and Commercial emissions increased by 1.6% (0.13 Mt CO2eq). Industrial emissions from large combustion sources within the EU-ETS comprise the largest source of emissions in this category. For example, emissions from all industrial categories; non-ferrous metals, chemicals, food and drink show increases of between 1% and 2% whilst the cement industry shows an increase of almost 18% in 2012 on 2011 levels. These increases were offset somewhat by lower emissions from industrial gases in 2012 (EPA, 2013).