Economic Intensity of Greenhouse Gas Emissions combines published economic data from the CSO National Accounts division with greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions data from the CSO Environment division and Eurostat. The chapter illustrates the effects on greenhouse gas emission intensities due to changes in the size and structure of the Irish economy.
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) air emissions are largely composed of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4). Carbon dioxide emissions are the result of burning fossil fuels such as coal, turf and petroleum for heat, power, and transport. Industrial processes such as cement production also emit CO2. Nitrous oxide emissions arise from nitrogen fertilisers used in agriculture and a small number of industrial processes. Methane emissions are caused by the digestive systems of ruminant animals, waste water treatment plants and landfill sites. Residence principle emissions excluding households are used. 2023 data are used in this chapter as this is the latest available year for residence principle GHG air emissions.
In summary, if we know the value of activity (output) or the value added associated with this activity (GVA) and we then combine this with the GHG associated with this same activity, we can calculate the economic emissions intensity of this activity. For example in grams CO2 equivalent per euro of activity or value added.
Time-series estimates are provided in constant prices to remove price effects. Additionally, comparable EU Member State data are also presented, placing Ireland in a European context. This combination of existing data sources provides insight into the intensity of emissions per euro of activity or added value.
In 2023 total output was €1,020,302 million while total GVA was €499,274 million. Residence principle GHG air emissions in 2023 were 61,926 thousand tonnes of CO2 equivalent. Dividing these results in 61 grams of air emissions per euro of output or 124 grams of air emissions per euro of GVA. There are large differences by NACE code. For example NACE 50 (Water transport) had a GVA intensity of 28,567 while many of the service sectors had single digit intensities. Modified output (output minus goods for processing exports, see Table 5.5) and modified GNI are also included for reference. See Table 7.1.
Total residence principle greenhouse gas emissions (excluding households) were 57,358 thousand tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2014. These emissions had increased by 8% to 61,926 thousand tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2023. See Table 7.2.
In 2023, total greenhouse gas air emissions per euro of Output was 52% of the 2014 intensity (61 grams per euro of output in 2023 compared with 116 grams per euro of output in 2014). This decrease in output intensity was observed across most sectors of the economy. See Table 7.3.
In 2023, total greenhouse gas air emissions per euro of GVA was 53% of the 2014 intensity (124 grams per euro of GVA in 2023 compared with 235 grams per euro of GVA in 2014). This decrease in GVA intensity was observed across most sectors of the economy. After the much publicised ‘level-shift’ in the Irish National Accounts in 2015, the CSO developed the Modified Gross National Income (GNI*) aggregate to remove some of the globalisation effects from the National Accounts. Further details on GNI* are provided below. In 2023, total greenhouse gas air emissions per euro of GNI* was 78% of the 2014 intensity (212 grams per euro of GNI* in 2023 compared with 272 grams per euro of GNI* in 2014). See Table 7.4.
| GHG | Output intensity | GVA intensity | GNI intensity | GNI* intensity | |
| 2014 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| 2015 | 107.481848245427 | 103.416616353377 | 106.436727628546 | 101.824338516537 | 104.861792651932 |
| 2016 | 111.48416934588 | 101.935892539621 | 102.488520679949 | 99.9107886467475 | 104.149269758881 |
| 2017 | 112.364189654939 | 93.3496410716923 | 94.4672168163199 | 96.6155709262599 | 102.46815581404 |
| 2018 | 110.315004911304 | 86.3231155462258 | 88.0968379693822 | 91.1983050791767 | 98.4380160913167 |
| 2019 | 88.8829021044401 | 65.9872466830744 | 65.9099039823105 | 70.7185835598092 | 81.3072675691895 |
| 2020 | 93.5568812345421 | 58.0622976474717 | 59.561206067752 | 65.5435277262348 | 75.2292842587987 |
| 2021 | 106.332569034779 | 60.1119710131644 | 62.2289321334139 | 73.6018004286032 | 82.7902317028018 |
| 2022 | 103.847026387789 | 58.939362645018 | 62.0642971876841 | 67.3820050374133 | 76.5279763135125 |
| 2023 | 107.963871899445 | 52.4296093840199 | 52.6730740678786 | 61.4025261691257 | 78.1240281305398 |
| Gross Value Added | Output | |
| Sweden | 83.5 | 38.87 |
| Luxembourg | 104.3 | 26.13 |
| France | 119.1 | 57.14 |
| Ireland | 122.51 | 59.02 |
| Austria | 131.03 | 58.95 |
| Belgium | 139.77 | 59.42 |
| Netherlands | 141.81 | 65.28 |
| Germany | 144.15 | 67.7 |
| Italy | 154.13 | 69.42 |
| Spain | 162.28 | 78.97 |
| Finland | 162.57 | 73.98 |
| European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) | 172.14 | 79.5 |
| Malta | 186.64 | 71.06 |
| Slovenia | 196.98 | 90.64 |
| Ireland GNI* & Output* | 212 | 67 |
| Denmark | 222.38 | 105.99 |
| Cyprus | 258.41 | 106.42 |
| Croatia | 267.36 | 127.69 |
| Slovakia | 270.15 | 109.49 |
| Hungary | 271.08 | 117.8 |
| Latvia | 286.76 | 128.58 |
| Czechia | 298.72 | 120.8 |
| Romania | 299.95 | 143.22 |
| Lithuania | 308.21 | 151.88 |
| Estonia | 311.99 | 136.72 |
| Greece | 340.39 | 172.8 |
| Poland | 483.97 | 209.42 |
| Bulgaria | 515.07 | 228.6 |
In Figure 7.2 Ireland is shown alongside EU Member States. The chart is ordered by increasing GVA intensity. EU data were sourced from the Eurostat database. Eurostat is the statistical office of the European Union and is part of the European Commission. The charts illustrate data available in October 2025 and are subject to revision. CSO greenhouse gas estimates for Ireland are used for 2023. The Irish Output, GVA and GNI* estimates are consistent with the benchmark Annual National Accounts (ANA24) published in July 2025. A description of GNI* is provided below. Air emissions results are based on the residence principle, describe NACE sectors and exclude households.
Eurostat greenhouse gas emissions data can be found at the following location:
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/climate-change/database
In part due to the highly globalised nature of the Irish economy, both the Output and GVA air emission intensities were among the lowest of EU Member States in 2023. Modified GNI (GNI*), a measure of economic activity which is designed to exclude many of these globalisation effects and Modified Output (Output*) are included alongside GVA to give users an insight into the deglobalised Irish position. Further explanatory material on these deglobalised measures is provided below.
Ireland had the fourth lowest GVA and Output intensity at 123 and 59 grams per euro respectively. The EU 27 average was 172 and 80 grams per euro. Ireland’s GNI* and Output* intensities were 212 and 67 grams per euro, which placed Ireland among the middle of the EU Member States. Bulgaria had the highest GVA and Output intensity at 515 and 229 grams per euro respectively. Sweden had the lowest GVA intensity at 84 grams per euro, while Luxembourg the lowest Output intensity at 26 grams per euro.
GNI*: Gross National Income (GNI) at market prices is equal to Gross National Product (GNP) at market prices plus EU subsidies less EU taxes. This is more commonly described as being equal to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) plus net primary incomes from abroad.
To produce Modified GNI (GNI*) CSO take GNI and adjust for
See the Explanatory Note in the Background Notes section of this publication for a descriptive walk-through of these items.
To produce Modified Output (Output*) CSO take Output and adjust for
See Table 5.5 for further details.
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