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Economic Intensity of Greenhouse Gas Emissions 2021

Economic Intensities

Large decrease in emission economic intensities since 2012

CSO statistical publication, 17 February 2023, 11am

Economic Intensities

If we know the value of activity (output) or the value added associated with this activity (GVA) and we combine this with the greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) associated with this same activity, we can calculate the emission economic intensity of this activity – for example in grams carbon dioxide (CO₂) equivalent per euro of activity or value added.

Total greenhouse gas air emissions were 145 grams per euro of Output in 2012. This intensity of emissions had more than halved by 2021, when it had decreased to 69 grams per euro of Output, a decrease of 53%.

There was a much publicised ‘level-shift’ in the Irish National Accounts in 2015. Even with this, total greenhouse gas air emissions per euro of Output was 39% lower in 2021 than in 2015. Similarly, in 2019, prior to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the intensity of Output emissions was 35% lower than in 2012. See Table 2.1.

Table 2.1 Greenhouse Gas Air Emissions in grams CO2 equivalent per € of Output by NACE A21 sector in current prices, 2012-2021

Total air emissions were 339 grams per euro of GVA in 2012. This intensity of emissions declined by even more than for Output and had decreased by over 60% by 2021, when it stood at 135 grams per euro of GVA.

Even allowing for the much publicised ‘level-shift’ in the Irish National Accounts in 2015, total GHG air emissions per euro of GVA was 42% lower in 2021 than in 2015. Similarly, in 2019, prior to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the intensity of GVA emissions was 44% lower than in 2012.

Using GNI*, measure of economic activity which excludes several globalisation effects which disproportionally impact the measurement of the size of the Irish economy, emission intensities were 423 grams per euro of GNI* in 2012. This intensity of emissions decreased by over 45% by 2021, when it stood at 232 grams per euro of GNI*. In 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the GNI* intensity was 29% lower than in 2012. See Table 2.2.

Table 2.2 Greenhouse Gas Air Emissions in grams CO2 equivalent per € of GVA by NACE A21 sector in current prices, 2012-2021

Table 2.2 Greenhouse Gas Air Emissions in grams CO₂ equivalent per € of GVA by NACE A21 sector in current prices, 2012-2021
Air emissions (grams CO₂ equivalent)/GVA €
NACE A21	NACE Rev. 2	Activity	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021¹
A	01-03	Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing	11,172	10,332	8,052	8,523	8,047	6,058	7,589	6,570	6,180	5,093
B	05-09	Mining and Quarrying	89	116	95	205	157	141	148	297	369	273
C	10-33	Manufacturing	175	182	178	78	82	79	71	66	56	52
D	35	Electricity, Gas, Steam and Air Conditioning Supply	3,934	3,338	3,545	3,902	4,117	3,957	3,138	2,803	2,540	3,148
E	36-39	Water Supply; Sewerage, Waste Management and Remediation Activities	874	1,053	1,286	1,350	1,266	1,374	1,429	1,282	1,327	1,185
F	41-43	Construction	63	62	69	58	53	48	49	59	62	62
G	45-47	Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles	41	47	47	50	51	46	43	41	40	37
H	49-53	Transportation and Storage	2,274	2,200	2,127	2,122	2,515	2,781	3,395	2,974	2,514	1,731
I	55-56	Accommodation and Food Service Activities	85	79	70	68	59	52	43	50	101	93
J	58-63	Information and Communication	7	7	6	6	5	4	3	3	3	2
K	64-66	Financial and Insurance Activities	4	3	2	2	2	3	3	3	4	3
L	68	Real Estate Activities	2	2	2	3	3	2	2	1	1	1
M	69-75	Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities	25	27	21	20	21	14	10	12	10	8
N	77-82	Administrative and Support Service Activities	10	13	11	10	12	11	7	7	8	8
O	84	Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security	55	52	50	47	50	50	48	55	52	47
P	85	Education	18	33	30	30	32	32	32	30	29	26
Q	86-88	Human Health and Social Work Activities	30	29	28	29	29	29	28	25	25	22
R	90-93	Arts, Entertainment and Recreation	59	58	53	55	57	48	58	49	68	47
S	94-96	Other Service Activities	67	83	78	78	106	100	100	82	103	94
T	97-98	Activities of Households as Employers; Activities of Households for Own Use	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
U	99	Activities of Extraterritorial Organisations and Bodies (not included)
		Total Intensity using Gross Value Added (GVA)	339	330	306	234	246	234	214	190	145	135

		Intensity using Modified Gross National Income (GNI*)	423	396	367	352	358	352	337	302	256	232
¹ 2021 based on Eurostat estimate.

Open in Excel: Economic Intensity of Greenhouse Gas Emissions 2021 Table 2.2 (XLS 15KB)

When these current price GVA and GNI* estimates are deflated to constant 2020 prices, total air emissions were 279 grams per euro of GVA in 2012. This intensity of emissions decreased by 51% by 2021, when it stood at 137 grams per euro of GVA. Total air emissions were 342 grams per euro of GNI* in 2012 and decreased by 31% by 2021, when it stood at 236 grams per euro of GNI*. In 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the GVA and GNI* intensities were 30% and 11% lower than in 2012. See Table 2.3.

Table 2.3 Greenhouse Gas Air Emissions in grams CO2 equivalent per € of GVA by NACE A21 sector in constant prices, 2012-2021 (chain linked annually and referenced to year 2020)

Table 2.3 Greenhouse Gas Air Emissions in grams CO₂ equivalent per € of GVA by NACE A21 sector in constant prices, 2012-2021 (chain linked annually and referenced to year 2020)
Air emissions (grams CO₂ equivalent)/GVA €
NACE A21	NACE Rev. 2	Activity	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021¹
A	01-03	Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing	9,973	10,157	7,797	7,573	7,063	6,883	8,093	6,207	6,180	6,341
B	05-09	Mining and Quarrying	287	221	238	272	324	345	500	684	369	276
C	10-33	Manufacturing	132	144	141	79	83	82	75	72	56	49
D	35	Electricity, Gas, Steam and Air Conditioning Supply	5,147	4,839	4,153	4,360	4,520	3,802	3,139	2,753	2,540	3,905
E	36-39	Water Supply; Sewerage, Waste Management and Remediation Activities	729	930	1,119	1,241	1,188	1,410	1,431	1,216	1,327	1,285
F	41-43	Construction	31	36	48	42	41	44	44	55	62	68
G	45-47	Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles	38	47	45	45	46	43	40	39	40	36
H	49-53	Transportation and Storage	2,555	2,577	2,556	2,549	2,929	3,257	3,308	3,190	2,514	3,016
I	55-56	Accommodation and Food Service Activities	79	73	65	66	58	53	43	49	101	119
J	58-63	Information and Communication	6	6	5	6	5	4	3	3	3	2
K	64-66	Financial and Insurance Activities	3	2	2	2	2	3	3	3	4	3
L	68	Real Estate Activities	1	1	1	2	2	1	2	1	1	1
M	69-75	Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities	22	23	19	18	20	13	10	12	10	8
N	77-82	Administrative and Support Service Activities	8	11	9	10	11	10	7	7	8	9
O	84	Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security	59	55	52	49	53	52	49	55	52	45
P	85	Education	15	28	26	26	28	29	30	29	29	28
Q	86-88	Human Health and Social Work Activities	25	24	23	24	24	25	25	24	25	23
R	90-93	Arts, Entertainment and Recreation	69	71	63	58	50	48	60	53	68	59
S	94-96	Other Service Activities	59	79	75	69	101	94	98	79	103	96
T	97-98	Activities of Households as Employers; Activities of Households for Own Use	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
U	99	Activities of Extraterritorial Organisations and Bodies (not included)
		Total Intensity using Gross Value Added (GVA)	279	277	260	219	234	228	210	194	145	137

		Intensity using Modified Gross National Income (GNI*)	342	324	301	320	330	329	321	304	256	236
¹ 2021 based on Eurostat estimate.

Open in Excel: Economic Intensity of Greenhouse Gas Emissions 2021 Table 2.3 (XLS 14KB)

Intensity Indices

It can be useful when examining a time-series to benchmark the series to a reference year to illustrate changing patterns more clearly over time. Again, these results describe NACE sectors and exclude households.

Figure 2.1 shows the level of GHG air emissions alongside the Output, GVA and GNI* emission intensities over the period 2012-2021, with 2012 taken as the benchmark and set to 100.

While the level of GHG air emissions has remained at close to or above the 2012 level, the intensity of emissions per euro of Output, GVA and GNI* has decreased across the period. These stood at 47, 40 and 55 respectively in 2021, or more simply that in 2021 all three stood at around half or less than half their 2012 GHG intensities. Constant price indices, in 2020 prices, are also included to remove the effects that price increases will play in the current price estimates. The constant price GVA level in 2021 was 49, while the GNI* was 69, illustrating that the low inflation experienced over the period was a contributing but not a dominant factor in the observed intensity decreases. Further details on constant prices are provided in the Background Notes. See Figure 2.1.

GHG air emissionsOutput intensityGVA intensityGNI* intensityGVA intensity (constant 2020 prices)GNI* intensity (constant 2020 prices)

	GHG air emissions	Output intensity	GVA intensity	GNI* intensity	GVA intensity (constant 2020 prices)	GNI* intensity (constant 2020 prices)
2012	100	100	100	100	100	100
2013	100.532881961671	97.0767941520594	97.2005937076925	93.5129096785457	99.2418222796123	94.9183194071404
2014	101.394732890137	91.6701070784722	90.1296621203429	86.6768018542863	92.9824124327122	88.0595092590778
2015	105.879336433324	77.3947351908833	68.8102234827162	83.2147310433051	78.393110516981	93.6837921027782
2016	114.474922458534	80.6819691240214	72.4058278679345	84.5706046010903	83.6139025518168	96.6869022919923
2017	119.413682497701	78.6100855123362	68.9530863599213	83.0483102136134	81.6185149854613	96.3758224083992
2018	121.548555400431	71.7543170317216	62.9811832980279	79.7323432723891	75.3294412514233	93.9222588652674
2019	118.293832573217	65.2585743389836	56.1069103747431	71.4255933693402	69.5838558118123	88.930083261424
2020	94.9826824999627	49.7496992616436	42.8140694700799	60.430141036122	52.0254852181909	74.86969722089
2021	100.93697013156	47.4304669298763	39.9001457010192	54.9148147267605	49.0890678502379	68.970147297118

Similarly, the following tables display Output and GVA, with the year 2012 taken as the benchmark and set to 100 and show the differences in contributing sectors to these totals.

From 100 in 2012, the total Output intensity index had decreased to 47 by 2021. However, within the A21 sectors of the economy several patterns emerged. Many, but not all, sectors displayed a decrease in intensity over the period. Care should be taken with sectoral comparisons given the different nature of the activities covered in each, particularly those sectors with low emission intensities. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the 2020 and 2021 estimates, particularly Air Transport (NACE 51) found in the Transportation and Storage (H) sector (NACE 49-53). See Table 2.4.

Table 2.4 Index of Greenhouse Gas Air Emissions in grams CO2 equivalent per € of Output by NACE A21 sector in current prices, 2012-2021 (where 2012=100)

Table 2.4 Index of Greenhouse Gas Air Emissions in grams CO₂ equivalent per € of Output by NACE A21 sector in current prices, 2012-2021 (where 2012=100)
Air emissions (grams CO₂ equivalent)/Output €million (where 2012=100)
NACE A21	NACE Rev. 2	Activity	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021¹
A	01-03	Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing	100	94	94	98	97	88	90	87	85	78
B	05-09	Mining and Quarrying	100	140	130	165	126	96	150	198	293	231
C	10-33	Manufacturing	100	104	100	63	65	65	60	56	50	48
D	35	Electricity, Gas, Steam and Air Conditioning Supply	100	86	93	97	108	94	75	59	52	65
E	36-39	Water Supply; Sewerage, Waste Management and Remediation Activities	100	118	162	188	176	187	212	184	167	158
F	41-43	Construction	100	104	102	84	70	66	67	87	83	86
G	45-47	Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles	100	124	130	131	124	119	113	107	99	92
H	49-53	Transportation and Storage	100	109	109	117	114	129	130	126	93	95
I	55-56	Accommodation and Food Service Activities	100	100	91	95	78	73	60	70	131	125
J	58-63	Information and Communication	100	98	85	96	95	80	56	70	59	46
K	64-66	Financial and Insurance Activities	100	75	45	53	51	64	58	63	65	58
L	68	Real Estate Activities	100	135	129	165	192	96	126	70	69	54
M	69-75	Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities	100	121	103	101	90	72	60	65	52	44
N	77-82	Administrative and Support Service Activities	100	118	123	128	151	122	88	95	103	104
O	84	Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security	100	98	92	86	89	90	86	98	93	82
P	85	Education	100	183	164	164	175	175	172	160	158	139
Q	86-88	Human Health and Social Work Activities	100	99	92	94	94	96	91	82	75	66
R	90-93	Arts, Entertainment and Recreation	100	99	94	96	95	84	100	87	113	82
S	94-96	Other Service Activities	100	133	123	135	190	187	185	147	175	166
T	97-98	Activities of Households as Employers; Activities of Households for Own Use
U	99	Activities of Extraterritorial Organisations and Bodies (not included)
		Total	100	97	92	77	81	79	72	65	50	47
¹ 2021 based on Eurostat estimate.

Open in Excel: Economic Intensity of Greenhouse Gas Emissions 2021 Table 2.4 (XLS 14KB)

From 100 in 2012, the total GVA intensity index had decreased to 40 by 2021. However, within the A21 sectors of the economy several patterns emerged. Many, but not all, sectors displayed a decrease in intensity over the period. For example, the Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing sector (A) was 46 in 2021. This means that the emissions intensity per euro of GVA was less than half what it was in 2012. In contrast, the Mining and Quarrying sector (B) intensity was 308 in 2021. Alternatively using GNI*, a measure of economic activity which excludes many globalisation effects, the index of Irish emission intensities decreased to 55 by 2021. See Table 2.5.

Table 2.5 Index of Greenhouse Gas Air Emissions in grams CO2 equivalent per € of GVA by NACE A21 sector in current prices, 2012-2021 (where 2012=100)

Table 2.5 Index of Greenhouse Gas Air Emissions in grams CO₂ equivalent per € of GVA by NACE A21 sector in current prices, 2012-2021 (where 2012=100)
Air emissions (grams CO₂ equivalent)/GVA €million (where 2012=100)
NACE A21	NACE Rev. 2	Activity	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021¹
A	01-03	Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing	100	92	72	76	72	54	68	59	55	46
B	05-09	Mining and Quarrying	100	131	107	232	177	159	167	335	417	308
C	10-33	Manufacturing	100	104	102	44	47	45	41	38	32	30
D	35	Electricity, Gas, Steam and Air Conditioning Supply	100	85	90	99	105	101	80	71	65	80
E	36-39	Water Supply; Sewerage, Waste Management and Remediation Activities	100	121	147	154	145	157	164	147	152	136
F	41-43	Construction	100	99	109	92	84	77	78	94	99	99
G	45-47	Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles	100	113	115	121	123	112	105	99	97	88
H	49-53	Transportation and Storage	100	97	94	93	111	122	149	131	111	76
I	55-56	Accommodation and Food Service Activities	100	93	82	80	69	61	51	58	120	110
J	58-63	Information and Communication	100	104	85	90	77	60	42	46	38	30
K	64-66	Financial and Insurance Activities	100	80	45	53	52	72	64	77	85	67
L	68	Real Estate Activities	100	125	119	153	175	89	118	64	61	46
M	69-75	Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities	100	106	84	80	84	54	41	47	38	33
N	77-82	Administrative and Support Service Activities	100	141	114	107	125	113	75	76	87	89
O	84	Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security	100	95	91	86	91	90	87	100	95	85
P	85	Education	100	184	166	167	179	179	176	166	164	144
Q	86-88	Human Health and Social Work Activities	100	98	94	98	98	99	94	86	85	74
R	90-93	Arts, Entertainment and Recreation	100	98	91	94	97	82	99	82	115	80
S	94-96	Other Service Activities	100	123	115	116	157	148	149	121	153	140
T	97-98	Activities of Households as Employers; Activities of Households for Own Use
U	99	Activities of Extraterritorial Organisations and Bodies (not included)
		Total Gross Value Added (GVA)	100	97	90	69	72	69	63	56	43	40

		Index using Modified Gross National Income (GNI*)	100	94	87	83	85	83	80	71	60	55
¹ 2021 based on Eurostat estimate.

Open in Excel: Economic Intensity of Greenhouse Gas Emissions 2021 Table 2.5 (XLS 16KB)

Table 2.6 is calculated using constant 2020 price GVA estimates. From 100 in 2012, the constant price GVA intensity index had decreased to 49 by 2021. Alternatively using constant price GNI*, the index of Irish emission intensities decreased from 100 to 69 by 2021. See Table 2.6.

Table 2.6 Index of Greenhouse Gas Air Emissions in grams CO2 equivalent per € of GVA by NACE A21 sector in constant 2020 prices, 2012-2021 (where 2012=100)

Table 2.6 Index of Greenhouse Gas Air Emissions in grams CO₂ equivalent per € of GVA by NACE A21 sector in constant 2020 prices, 2012-2021 (where 2012=100)
Air emissions (grams CO₂ equivalent)/GVA €million (where 2012=100)
NACE A21	NACE Rev. 2	Activity	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021¹
A	01-03	Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing	100	102	78	76	71	69	81	62	62	64
B	05-09	Mining and Quarrying	100	77	83	95	113	120	174	238	129	96
C	10-33	Manufacturing	100	109	107	60	63	62	57	54	43	37
D	35	Electricity, Gas, Steam and Air Conditioning Supply	100	94	81	85	88	74	61	53	49	76
E	36-39	Water Supply; Sewerage, Waste Management and Remediation Activities	100	127	153	170	163	193	196	167	182	176
F	41-43	Construction	100	117	154	134	133	142	142	178	199	219
G	45-47	Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles	100	123	117	117	119	111	105	101	105	94
H	49-53	Transportation and Storage	100	101	100	100	115	127	130	125	98	118
I	55-56	Accommodation and Food Service Activities	100	92	82	84	73	66	54	62	128	151
J	58-63	Information and Communication	100	102	84	91	78	59	42	49	41	34
K	64-66	Financial and Insurance Activities	100	77	49	59	64	95	84	103	115	92
L	68	Real Estate Activities	100	130	130	181	221	116	173	101	102	84
M	69-75	Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities	100	108	87	85	91	59	46	54	44	39
N	77-82	Administrative and Support Service Activities	100	144	119	126	151	135	89	97	111	117
O	84	Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security	100	94	89	84	90	88	83	94	89	77
P	85	Education	100	182	167	169	180	189	193	188	191	182
Q	86-88	Human Health and Social Work Activities	100	95	92	95	98	102	99	95	100	92
R	90-93	Arts, Entertainment and Recreation	100	102	90	83	71	69	87	76	98	86
S	94-96	Other Service Activities	100	134	128	118	172	160	167	135	175	163
T	97-98	Activities of Households as Employers; Activities of Households for Own Use
U	99	Activities of Extraterritorial Organisations and Bodies (not included)
		Total Gross Value Added (GVA) in constant prices	100	99	93	78	84	82	75	70	52	49

		Index using Modified Gross National Income (GNI*) in constant prices	100	95	88	94	97	96	94	89	75	69
¹ 2021 based on Eurostat estimate.

Open in Excel: Economic Intensity of Greenhouse Gas Emissions 2021 Table 2.6 (XLS 15KB)

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Economic Intensity of Greenhouse Gas Emissions 2021

Economic Intensities

Economic Intensities

Large decrease in emission economic intensities since 2012

Economic Intensities

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