Energy-related greenhouse gas emissions from transport, electricity, and heat fell 8.3% last year, according the latest report from the SEAI.
They are now at their lowest level for 30 years. Energy emissions have also fallen in seven of the last ten years.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland is calling for energy use in carbon-intensive sectors to be strategically slowed, but the deployment of more renewable energy, as well as energy efficiency technologies and practices, to be urgently sped up.
The SEAI said it will take bold, courageous leadership from across government, business, and citizens to achieve this, but that it can be done.
Electricity emissions are benefiting from the highest proportion of renewable energy in the electricity mix since records began.
The recent surge in electricity imports from the UK also helps because the related climate pollution is not counted as Irish.
Emissions have also fallen for three years in a row in the highly fossil fuel-reliant heating sector.
SEAI Chief Executive William Walsh said these are all great signals, but the rates of change required are unprecedented and the pace of improvement being delivered is simply not fast enough.
He is calling for a massive redoubling of effort and support for the deployment of renewables on Ireland’s electricity grid, the development of district heating networks in cities and towns, elimination of oil and gas fired boilers, massive roll out of electric vehicles and immediate demand reduction measures.
Mr Walsh said a “do everything possible” attitude is required from all sectors and all actors, and that people must continue to work together in communities.
This is essential if Ireland is to stay within its non-negotiable carbon budgets and EU targets.
In tandem with going at full speed to replace fossil fuels however, the SEAI said there is a need to start strategically slowing down certain aspects of economic growth and making decisions about the timing of that growth in order to help Ireland in its energy transition and avoid further burdening its ability to meet its climate obligations.
“For strategic slowing down, Ireland must make wise decisions on growth, limiting it where needed, to ensure choices that fit within the ecological boundaries set by science. Anything else would be irresponsible,” said Mr Walsh.
“This can feel like a daunting task. But we have the technical solutions, now it’s about winning hearts and minds, incentivising action and making tough choices on regulation and growth,” he added.
The Energy in Ireland 2024 report shows that Ireland’s total energy demand increased by 0.8% last year.
This was led mainly by a 4.5% increased energy demand for transport, and a 6.9% increase in energy used by the commercial services sector which includes data centres.
In the residential sector, demand for gas, coal, peat, electricity, and oil all dropped in 2023, with energy demand reaching its lowest level in 25 years.
Multiple factors are likely to have played a role in this according to the SEAI, including a reduced need for home heating due to a warmer winter, high energy prices and increased home energy upgrades.
The SEAI has warned that there is no room for complacency because the early data for 2024 suggests residential demand for gas and heating oil are on the rise again.
It also said it is likely that Ireland’s transport and electricity emissions will exceed their sectoral emission ceiling for the first carbon budget period which ends in 2025.
Any emissions that exceed the first carbon budget are carried over into the second carbon budget, where they will need to be addressed by even more intensive policies and measures.
Recent reports indicate that Ireland could face considerable fines for not delivering on its climate commitments.
Article Source – Energy-related greenhouse gas emissions down 8.3% in 2023 – RTE
