Environmental Indicators Ireland 2023

3.1 Ireland: Particulate matter emissions 1990-2021

Emissions of particulate matter PM_2.5 in Ireland have decreased by 56% from 28,900 tonnes in 1990 to 12,600 in 2021. The Residential and Commercial sector accounted for 53% of PM_2.5 emissions in 2021, while industry accounted for 12%.

3.2 EU: Particulate matter emissions 2021

Cyprus was the EU Member State with the largest decline in PM_2.5 emissions between 2005 and 2021, with an index number of 47.6 in 2021 compared with a base of 100 in 2005. Ireland’s index number in 2021 was 66.3 compared with 100 in 2005, indicating a bigger decline in PM_2.5 emissions than for the EU27 average. Romania had the smallest decline in PM_2.5 emission over the 2005-2021 period with an index number of 96.9 in 2021 compared with 100 in the base year of 2005.

3.3 Ireland: Sulphur oxide emissions 1990-2021

Ireland’s emissions of sulphur oxides were 6% of the level they were in 1990, decreasing from 183,840 tonnes to 11,770 tonnes.

Emissions from power stations have declined from 103,000 tonnes in 1990 to 3,100 in 2021.

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.

3.4 EU: Sulphur oxide emissions 2017-2021

Ireland’s emissions of sulphur dioxides equivalents in 2021 were 12,000 tonnes, less than 1% of the EU27 figure of 1.399 million tonnes.

Ireland’s emissions rose by 9.7% in 2021 compared with 2020. The EU27 average declined by 0.3% in 2021. Bulgaria had the highest percentage decrease in emissions of sulphur oxides, down 26.4% in 2021 compared with 2020.

3.5 Ireland: Nitrogen oxide emissions 1990-2021

Ireland’s nitrogen oxide emissions have fallen by 44% from 174,900 tonnes in 1990 to 98,200 tonnes in 2021. Emissions from power stations declined by 82% over this period while emissions from transport fell by 51%. Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries was the sector with the highest level of emissions in 2021 at 40% of the total.

3.6 EU: Nitrogen oxide emissions 2017-2021

The largest increase in emissions of nitrogen oxide over 2020-2021 in the EU27 occurred in Bulgaria where emissions increased by 8.9%. Ireland had the 5^th greatest increase in emissions by an EU Member State at 3.8% over this period, compared with the EU27 average of 1%. Luxembourg experienced the most decline in the emissions of nitrogen oxides between 2020-2021 with a decrease of 5.6%.

3.7 Ireland: Ammonia emissions 1990-2021

Ireland’s ammonia emissions have increased by 13% from 110,700 tonnes in 1990 to 124,700 tonnes in 2021. Almost all ammonia emissions are attributable to the agricultural sector, with emissions directly from soil the largest contributing factor at 38% of total emissions in 2021.

3.8 EU: Ammonia emissions 2017-2021

The largest increase in emissions of ammonia in the EU27 between 2020-2021 occurred in Cyprus where emissions rose by 2.5%. Ireland’s ammonia emissions increased by 0.7% between 2020 and 2021. The EU27 average emissions of ammonia fell by 2.4% between 2020 and 2021. In Denmark, which was the best performing EU Member State, emissions fell by 10.3% over this period.

3.9 Ireland: NMVOC emissions 1990-2021

Ireland’s emissions of Non-Methane Volatile Organic Compounds fell by 25% from 151,600 tonnes in 1990 to 113,700 in 2021.

Agriculture, forestry and fishing was the sector with the highest emissions over the 1990-2021 period and accounted for 38% of total NMVOC emissions in 2021, compared with 28% in 1990.

Emissions from the food and beverage industry increased by 212% over the 1990-2021 period, while emissions from the transport and the residential and commercial sectors declined by 88% and 72% respectively.

3.10 EU: NMVOC emissions 2017-2021

The largest increase in emissions of NMVOC’s between 2020 and 2021 period in the EU27 occurred in Estonia where these emissions increased by 11%. In Ireland, NMVOC emissions increased by 1.8% between 2020 and 2021, compared with an EU average increase of 0.6%. The best performing EU Member State was Poland where emissions fell by 5% over this period.