Total greenhouse gas emissions (without LULUCF)

The graph shows that Ireland’s GHG emissions increased in 1990–2001. Since 2001, there has been an overall gradual downward trend, with some increases in 2015 and 2016. Total national GHG emissions in 2023 (excluding LULUCF) are estimated to be 54.93 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2eq) which is 6.8% (or 4.03 Mt CO₂eq) lower than emissions in 2022 (58.96 Mt CO₂eq) and followed a 2.1% decrease in emissions reported from 2021 to 2022. The 2023 final data show that emissions were below the historical baseline for the first time in 33 years, reaching 1.4% below that in the 1990 reference year.

Ireland’s target is to reduce GHG emissions by at least 42% by 2030 compared with 2005 levels (to contribute to the EU target of 55%), with a number of flexibilities available to assist in achieving this. The latest projections (from May 2024) indicate that currently implemented measures (the With Existing Measures scenario) will achieve a reduction of 9% from 2005 levels by 2030, significantly short of the 42% reduction target. EPA projections show that, if measures in the higher-ambition (With Additional Measures) scenario are implemented, Ireland can achieve a reduction of 25% by 2030, still short of the 42% reduction target.