The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published quarterly greenhouse gas emissions for Ireland for Quarter 1 2024 – a new series of quarterly greenhouse gas emission indicators which will support early and more frequent monitoring of progress on climate action.

The data show an overall reduction of 2.2% in the first three months of 2024 compared to the same quarter last year. The largest sectoral decrease in emissions was observed in electricity generation with a reduction of 16.7% (-312 kt CO2 eq). Emission reductions were also observed in the agricultural (-2.6%, -129 kt CO2 eq) and industrial (-4.7%, -69 kt CO2 eq) sectors.

Dr Eimear Cotter, director of the Office of Evidence and Assessment, EPA, said: “These quarterly greenhouse gas emissions respond to an on-going need for more timely and frequent data on Ireland’s greenhouse gases.

Valuable early and frequent indicator data

"Ireland joins a small number of countries worldwide to carry out this type of assessment, which will provide valuable early and frequent indicator data for the monitoring and governance of Ireland’s climate action. The series will complement the national greenhouse gas inventory and projections prepared annually by the EPA.

“The reduction of 2.2% in Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions in the first quarter of 2024, when compared with the same period last year, is welcome following the largest annual reduction in emissions outside of recession reported in 2023. This shows that we can make progress in reducing our greenhouse gas emissions when concerted action is taken.”

An increase in greenhouse gas emissions for transport (+2.7%), commercial (+4.1%) and residential buildings (+6.1%) in Quarter 1 2024 shows the clear link between increased energy demand, largely delivered by fossil fuels, and greenhouse gas emissions.

Mary Frances Rochford, programme manager of EPA’s Climate Programme said: “These findings signal the continued impact of climate action and decarbonisation measures across Ireland’s economy and society. The assessment on a quarterly basis also highlights the impact of market prices and weather conditions.

"We see reduced emissions from the electricity sector linked to increased renewables and interconnection, increases in emissions from heating associated with lower fuel price and cooler temperatures than quarter 1 2023. Poor weather conditions also impacted lime application to soils which led to lower emissions from the agriculture sector.”

The Quarterly Greenhouse Gas Emissions Indicators for Quarter 1 is 2024 available on the EPA website and the EPA Greenhouse Gas web resource is also available online.