Environmental Indicators
Climate | Status / Trend |
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Greenhouse Gas Emissions: By Sector | ![]() |
Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Projections to 2020 | ![]() |
Effort Sharing Decision Targets | ![]() |
Progress to targets
In terms of compliance with 2020 targets, Ireland’s non-Emissions Trading Scheme (non-ETS) emissions are projected to be 2% and 4% below 2005 levels in 2020 under the With Existing Measures and With Additional Measures scenarios, respectively (based on the latest emissions projections published in July 2020). This compares to the target of 20% below 2005 levels by 2020.
In terms of 2030 reduction targets the EU Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR) requires that Ireland reduce its non-ETS emissions by 30% on 2005 levels by 2030. The Effort Sharing Regulation maintains existing flexibilities under the current Effort Sharing Decision (e.g. banking, borrowing, buying and selling between Member States). It also provides for two additional flexibilities – use of ETS allowances and credit from action undertaken in the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector.
Under the With Existing Measures scenario, the projections indicate that Ireland will exceed the carbon budget of 378.3 Mt CO2 eq by 50.8 Mt CO2 eq over the 2021-2030 period assuming the Land-use, Land-use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) flexibility only is fully utilised. If the ETS flexibility is also used the exceedance will reduce to 32 Mt CO2 eq.
Under the With Additional Measures scenario, the projections indicate that Ireland will have a surplus of approximately 8.9 Mt CO2 eq over the 2021-2030 period assuming the LULUCF flexibility only as set out in the Effort Sharing Regulation is fully utilised. If the ETS flexibility is also used the surplus would increase to 27.8 Mt CO2 eq.
The Greenhouse gas emissions: Projections to 2020 graph above shows Ireland's ESD emissions and targets.
Ireland's national policy position
Ireland’s National Policy position is to reduce CO2 emissions in 2050 by 80% on 1990 levels across the Energy Generation, Built Environment and Transport sectors, with a goal of Climate neutrality in the Agriculture and Land-Use sector.
Ireland's Long-term vision of low-carbon transition is based on an aggregate reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of at least 80% (compared to 1990 levels) by 2050 across the electricity generation, built environment and transport sectors;in parallel, an approach to carbon neutrality in the agriculture and land-use sector, including forestry, which does not compromise capacity for sustainable food production.
The graph below shows the historic and projected emissions from the electricity generation, built environment and transport sectors out to 2040 based on emissions projections produced in July 2020 (under the With Additional Measures Scenario). The graph also illustrates the 2050 target pathway based on the long-term vision of low-carbon transition as set out in Ireland's National Policy Position as described above. This graph demonstrates the extent of the challenge in meeting national 2050 targets and the importance of short-term reductions in emissions as the closer Ireland gets to the target year (2050) the more effort is required per annum to reach the target.