Industry | Transport | Residential and Commercial | Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing | Power stations | Other | |
1990-1994 | 21.0864509004021 | 2.94680497890866 | 1.32559127869727 | 1.74698054560913 | 0.824564102939528 | 1.12674876307781 |
1995-1999 | 13.9367768823233 | 2.95435905699413 | 1.21949535035739 | 1.70074281580042 | 1.15868403818592 | 1.19314941905096 |
2000-2004 | 9.9279067180473 | 2.78817676342389 | 1.72717349250523 | 1.52356252315164 | 1.1659432198871 | 1.49869464707872 |
2005-2009 | 9.49137625218504 | 2.79855690954615 | 1.97805699634928 | 1.31300644023542 | 0.780989993942347 | 1.70900086475817 |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
2010 | 9.32457977963002 | 2.31030368336957 | 1.55380435571336 | 1.12841173549187 | 0.457272801035573 | 1.48820129281863 |
2011 | 8.66121292504486 | 2.15806651540513 | 1.28456789884128 | 1.08883079486769 | 0.382085209486481 | 1.00902831756681 |
2012 | 8.47188395034239 | 2.04969072621233 | 1.20818260132197 | 1.0815855206492 | 0.435101855361685 | 0.957594463754565 |
2013 | 9.05427572644072 | 2.0450221312911 | 1.19267810206655 | 1.04172046099733 | 0.375532548075582 | 0.849786872622139 |
2014 | 7.74136746687774 | 2.02692806021323 | 1.44008603395565 | 1.01248663670705 | 0.38496479444652 | 0.794157282809876 |
2015 | 7.52401093547742 | 1.88869133142871 | 1.46133590996088 | 1.00261412930167 | 0.438519927827773 | 0.965541861843621 |
2016 | 7.02749906760665 | 1.922400061495 | 1.46594075228063 | 1.01729064168294 | 0.439718629562364 | 0.755378518343352 |
2017 | 6.34616408318504 | 1.72533784199577 | 1.59291478625604 | 1.02540677155819 | 0.363101166324923 | 0.826372547948987 |
Emissions of particulate matter (PM2.5) in Ireland have decreased by 59% from an average annual 29,000 tonnes in 1990-1994 to 11,900 in 2017. The Industrial sector accounted for 53% of PM2.5 emissions in 2017, while Transport accounting for another 15%.
2000=100 | |
Malta | 24.2115971515768 |
Slovakia | 43.6646608182895 |
Netherlands | 46.8486551585709 |
Greece | 48.5901441855212 |
Cyprus | 50.058207217695 |
France | 50.1783072253321 |
Croatia | 50.2538833638795 |
Luxembourg | 56.4414603441041 |
Belgium | 56.918866947711 |
Germany | 59.1520363071778 |
Ireland | 59.3279143536875 |
Estonia | 60.1095033242081 |
Sweden | 61.2165331546404 |
Austria | 63.3413120207716 |
Finland | 68.5802350221537 |
Portugal | 69.4265014557519 |
EU28 | 71.4565183211798 |
United Kingdom | 72.1667454901696 |
Spain | 75.1800851246468 |
Czech Republic | 81.3790012021435 |
Latvia | 82.5206611570248 |
Italy | 83.8819274653627 |
Denmark | 84.7958407304083 |
Poland | 92.4203062248996 |
Hungary | 99.5457091293796 |
Slovenia | 105.796700764906 |
Romania | 108.227933782007 |
Bulgaria | 124.105132386055 |
Lithuania | 131.285239265578 |
Ireland ranked 18th worst among EU Member States for emissions of PM2.5 in 2017 compared with 2000. Irish emissions in 2017 were 59% of the 2000 level, compared with an average figure of 71% for the EU as a whole.
Malta had the lowest level of PM2.5 emissions in 2016 compared with 2000 at 24%, while Lithuania had the highest at 131%.
Power stations | Residential and Commercial | Industry | Transport | Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing | Other | NEC 2010 target | |
1990-1994 | 97.4686 | 36.0011630941928 | 33.2782952622186 | 6.78182277432152 | 1.52655825855025 | 0.606039119184028 | 42 |
1995-1999 | 95.4394 | 39.3529412693695 | 21.1681972340744 | 6.50859959069809 | 1.1133214283622 | 0.701083552937346 | 42 |
2000-2004 | 61.279764 | 28.8712442761322 | 15.4565831746969 | 2.17588624555759 | 0.873216417956061 | 0.818084263849016 | 42 |
2005-2009 | 30.2026788832 | 8.72052510512988 | 11.8390436661071 | 0.673769596887476 | 0.641893322711295 | 1.09782376929348 | 42 |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | |
2010 | 9.45564 | 5.86476657503271 | 9.46989645588597 | 0.261505526616097 | 0.368375168511254 | 0.874316126193153 | 42 |
2011 | 9.38108654495214 | 5.24424159959506 | 8.65496326172383 | 0.229892786817777 | 0.0885000681293786 | 1.15305858013313 | 42 |
2012 | 9.58115734962 | 4.48541564427724 | 8.20317068955504 | 0.258801520950957 | 0.0940545758998301 | 0.664468037396154 | 42 |
2013 | 8.685668008 | 4.86709598021393 | 8.75654134124689 | 0.247430420362959 | 0.0830014015384546 | 0.763127193493491 | 42 |
2014 | 6.19579722657 | 3.34057833670868 | 7.20088928318372 | 0.224637212026529 | 0.0491732383850217 | 0.0453275381784501 | 42 |
2015 | 5.5083003013 | 2.45622257706727 | 6.85610593971575 | 0.232345839199881 | 0.0396729565680988 | 0.114311025921038 | 42 |
2016 | 3.84125918 | 2.56746414095426 | 6.78190111541339 | 0.257166687396733 | 0.0363569628384524 | 0.266137159870541 | 42 |
2017 | 3.88825814 | 2.75402248544368 | 6.15471937031421 | 0.239698423977342 | 0.0387533657123289 | 0.143810474511824 | 42 |
Ireland’s emissions of sulphur dioxide have fallen from an average annual 175,700 tonnes in 1990-1994 to 13,200 tonnes in 2017.
Emissions from power stations have declined from an average annual 97,500 tonnes in 1990-1994 to 3,900 in 2017.
The fall in emissions from power stations is mainly due to a shift from oil and coal to gas and the installation of technologies which reduce sulphur emissions.
Ireland has been below the National Emissions Ceiling (NEC 2010) for sulphur dioxide since 2009.
All EU Member States were below their 2010 National Emissions Ceiling level of emissions for sulphur dioxide (SO2) in 2017. Ireland ranked 11th worst among EU Members States in terms of 2017 emissions with a reduction of 69% relative to its 2010 NEC. Malta was the country with the greatest reduction in emissions, at 98% below its 2010 NEC in 2017.
Transport | Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing | Power stations | Residential and Commercial | Industry | Other | NEC 2010 target | |
1990-1994 | 66.1923022499408 | 43.2710308165531 | 47.5342 | 8.12149456454945 | 9.7463763047666 | 1.80721716724572 | 65 |
1995-1999 | 60.5695615319545 | 48.4936549723611 | 40.3200795676336 | 8.6238950588765 | 8.67623378327801 | 1.04703318701046 | 65 |
2000-2004 | 54.644796003566 | 46.2320147484253 | 36.9263656305055 | 12.0828092252985 | 8.72952172477759 | 1.26582023855255 | 65 |
2005-2009 | 55.259295160599 | 41.3015778927177 | 24.9862474283073 | 15.678812759112 | 9.19515168364752 | 1.15589387735385 | 65 |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 65 | |
2010 | 43.4316921578004 | 38.5646862350141 | 11.5162356809694 | 9.93484719869214 | 9.44858720079154 | 1.14859508400223 | 65 |
2011 | 41.725608138057 | 34.9219100189835 | 7.9954338378559 | 8.4550021978611 | 8.2707838216138 | 0.86068113417415 | 65 |
2012 | 40.750158712602 | 35.2244085989649 | 10.30265931818 | 10.4599202409486 | 8.02259015503067 | 0.887082271998197 | 65 |
2013 | 41.7080126694047 | 37.0081308923818 | 8.56948805434831 | 10.5295004770858 | 8.00188790977317 | 0.825477791182461 | 65 |
2014 | 43.7269920759999 | 35.549313984321 | 8.10124762660617 | 10.9750272296182 | 7.18309853331216 | 0.785987951790351 | 65 |
2015 | 42.2634307178087 | 35.0611156989061 | 9.81673752010558 | 11.037463932231 | 7.41413066779275 | 0.646539750638822 | 65 |
2016 | 45.2165262119056 | 35.8457587671169 | 8.29411826923566 | 11.1780937112087 | 7.51809283239975 | 0.650984605976296 | 65 |
2017 | 44.4325903443998 | 37.6740669252791 | 8.10816304528725 | 10.2687836482095 | 7.38937770224762 | 0.391216811270149 | 65 |
Ireland’s nitrogen oxides emissions have fallen from an average annual 176,700 tonnes in 1990-1994 to 108,300 tonnes in 2017. This is 67% above the National Emissions Ceiling for 2010 of 65,000 tonnes and slightly below the 2016 figure of 108,700 tonnes.
Direct soils | N-excreted on pasture | Dairy cattle | Other cattle | Other livestock | Other | NEC 2010 target | |
1990-1994 | 46.9220001565832 | 14.2151909616584 | 12.240796609164 | 28.3602634321955 | 9.98258460713916 | 0.39395241976474 | 116 |
1995-1999 | 48.366677473258 | 14.962746309613 | 11.8743582322247 | 31.5497457476768 | 11.0402037451665 | 1.05042138924095 | 116 |
2000-2004 | 45.6682288728593 | 14.2722236943826 | 11.3899840888683 | 30.1815109880481 | 10.7617263128622 | 1.97235933247983 | 116 |
2005-2009 | 43.3746827233704 | 13.6776512920366 | 10.5334602769851 | 30.6626851199252 | 9.95446279635442 | 2.4333278584155 | 116 |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 116 | |
2010 | 44.1383410870649 | 13.1734173594397 | 10.50468522131 | 28.7357481315598 | 9.69369921768346 | 1.86493431396345 | 116 |
2011 | 40.7879686593494 | 12.9933103609844 | 10.8951868615389 | 28.1490247292919 | 9.79007527094048 | 1.68069697457797 | 116 |
2012 | 40.1774157142104 | 13.426726225296 | 10.9674655937639 | 30.0426515155639 | 10.0660448032427 | 1.5101673755473 | 116 |
2013 | 41.2674309826427 | 13.6341270624098 | 11.2011496704623 | 30.4862532928901 | 9.75273353678503 | 1.43017676886348 | 116 |
2014 | 41.639991731171 | 13.688034565258 | 11.6832514423174 | 29.9134116336753 | 9.98694775816333 | 1.36169212065992 | 116 |
2015 | 43.0997088971177 | 13.7016688332118 | 12.706932520719 | 29.8617994936555 | 10.037801690715 | 1.24922360237651 | 116 |
2016 | 46.0619110253457 | 14.1412266178774 | 13.4385397740585 | 31.0228759894023 | 10.2664243590265 | 1.18686296211736 | 116 |
2017 | 47.0322931984265 | 14.5306023095885 | 14.0962245251954 | 31.2987896930063 | 10.4238857421756 | 1.10739785166364 | 116 |
Ireland’s ammonia emissions have varied between 104,300 and 123,500 tonnes over the 1990-2017 period. In 2017, ammonia emissions were 118,500 tonnes, or 2.1% above the 2010 National Emissions Ceiling of 116,000 tonnes.
Seven EU Member States were above their 2010 National Emissions Ceiling for ammonia in 2017. Ireland’s performance was ranked in seventh worst place in 2017 with emissions 2% above its 2010 NEC threshold. Lithuania had the best score, at 65% below its 2010 NEC.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing | Transport | Fugitive and solvents | Residential and Commercial | Food and beverage industry | Other | NEC 2010 target | |
1990-1994 | 42.9526412608678 | 35.2294608851647 | 27.0419831163858 | 25.0369431105811 | 9.90145142435215 | 2.80069311783355 | 55 |
1995-1999 | 46.4168420202494 | 28.6574964539712 | 28.97833507184 | 16.5970758468773 | 10.0671388816559 | 2.73744590965225 | 55 |
2000-2004 | 44.6768739189066 | 18.2653857855058 | 28.9262542984384 | 11.9176070417545 | 12.0170845613704 | 3.48121271788856 | 55 |
2005-2009 | 43.8913653839707 | 12.9314669902903 | 30.7760430832521 | 11.4357777173417 | 14.4240331758583 | 3.77502549954175 | 55 |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 55 | |
2010 | 42.2586554997851 | 9.36593958056381 | 25.4063314776394 | 11.3725339498478 | 18.0521411784213 | 3.15953577257365 | 55 |
2011 | 41.9680343611583 | 8.5122667190761 | 24.7883645489133 | 10.5112120903726 | 18.1841441931978 | 2.91116120444654 | 55 |
2012 | 43.2611484934264 | 7.71487843753693 | 23.7801128488165 | 10.2963642478266 | 20.4121769167628 | 2.84133461918949 | 55 |
2013 | 44.0008793837089 | 7.19897990041122 | 23.0071024056276 | 11.0123726411367 | 22.4918640061 | 2.96143796738297 | 55 |
2014 | 43.9779666089161 | 6.77006796892454 | 23.8259941080865 | 9.45794000934835 | 19.0314723136 | 3.53772319623012 | 55 |
2015 | 44.2545278276993 | 6.19370619752376 | 23.2506524077948 | 9.22457816665088 | 20.040843132826 | 3.72730241402406 | 55 |
2016 | 45.9370232403542 | 5.77392253467083 | 23.0739535456229 | 8.63418298799683 | 21.240703798845 | 3.76550457035458 | 55 |
2017 | 46.762965550571 | 4.91236702338199 | 23.1651371329162 | 7.85597170097363 | 26.5741913255507 | 4.04560104952325 | 55 |
Ireland’s emissions of Non-Methane Volatile Organic Compounds fell by 21% from an average annual 143,000 tonnes in 1990-1994 to 113,300 in 2017. The 2017 figure was 106% above the 2010 National Emissions Ceiling of 55,000 tonnes.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing was the sector with the highest emissions over the 1990-2017 period and accounted for 41% of total NMVOC emissions in 2017, compared with an average annual 30% in 1990-1994.
Emissions from Transport and the Residential and Commercial sectors declined by 86% and 69% respectively over the 1990-2017 period.
Only six EU Member States exceeded their 2010 National Emissions Ceiling in 2017 for Non-Methane Volatile Organic Compounds. Ireland had the highest level of emissions among EU Member States in 2017 relative to its 2010 NEC at 106%, whilst Malta had the lowest emissions at -77%.
Go to next chapter: Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change