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International comparison:
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For more information on this release:
E-mail: environment@cso.ie Clare O'Hara (+353) 1 498 4208 Berna Lawlor (+353) 1 498 4210
For general information on CSO statistics:
information@cso.ie (+353) 21 453 5000 On-line ISSN 2009-7840
CSO statistical release, , 11am

Environmental Accounts Air Emissions

2013

Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Sector
'000 tonnes CO2 equivalent 
NACE Sector20092010201120122013 2012-2013 % change
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing19,75019,72419,09319,65719,799 0.7
Industry21,61521,43219,54520,47719,243 -6.0
Services6,8476,5146,2826,0706,042 -0.5
Households15,19015,19913,84213,33213,670 2.5
       
Total63,40262,87058,76259,53658,755 -1.3

Greenhouse gas emissions from Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing overtake Industry emissions in 2013

Figure 1 Change in Sectoral Greenhouse Gas Emissions
go to full release
  • Total greenhouse gas emissions fell by 1.3% to 58.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent from 2012 to 2013
  • Greenhouse gas emissions by the industry sector showed an annual decrease of 6.0% in 2013
  • Emissions of most air pollutants increased from 2012 to 2013 (see Table 13)

NACE Sector Distribution

In 2013 greenhouse gas emissions by the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector constituted 33.7% of total greenhouse gas emissions while emissions by the industry sector were 32.7% of the total.

The household sector was the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases at 23.3% of the total and the remaining 10.3% of emissions originated with the services sector (see Table 1).

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing

Emissions by the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector decreased overall from 2004, falling to 19.1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2011, but increased by 3.0% in 2012 and by a further 0.7% in 2013 (see Figure 1).

Industry

Greenhouse gas emissions by the industry sector fell in 2013, reverting to the trend of decreasing emissions since 2005 that can be seen in Figure 1. This trend was interrupted by a 4.8% annual increase in 2012 which was mainly due to higher consumption of solid fuels for energy production that year.

The overall decrease of 28.6% in industry greenhouse gas emissions between 2004 and 2013 (see Figure 2) was largely the result of a reduction in emissions from the electricity and gas supply industry (NACE 35).

Services

Figures 1 and 2 show a trend of continuously decreasing emissions by the services sector after a peak in 2007. The largest annual decline of 10.3% occurred in 2009. Thereafter the rate of decrease slowed and a small annual fall of 0.5% was recorded in 2013.

Households

After a decrease of 8.9% in 2011 and a further reduction of 3.7% in 2012, household sector emissions increased by 2.5% to 13.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2013.

SectorPercentage change 2004-2013Percentage change 2012-2013
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing-6.467249636166450.725215777816391
Industry-28.634279120214-6.02478712572224
Services-17.2257078636193-0.454552818841403
Households-1.201705903178652.53309785558159

Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Type of Gas

Carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide emissions decreased by 2.7% and 3.5% respectively from 2012 to 2013 while emissions of methane increased by 2.7% and fluorinated gas emissions rose by 12.4% (see Tables 2-4 and 12).

In 2013 carbon dioxide emissions formed 63.1% of total greenhouse gas emissions, methane contributed 22.5%, nitrous oxide made up 12.1% and fluorinated gas emissions were 2.3% of total greenhouse gas emissions measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.


Trends in Greenhouse Gas Emissions, GDP and Population

Figure 3 compares total greenhouse gas emissions, gross domestic product (GDP) at constant prices and population as percentages of their respective values in 2004.

YearGreenhouse gas emissionsGDPPopulationIndex 2004 = 100
2004100100100100
2005103.002956691243106.334495802907102.200247218789100
2006101.714778257587113.043422413184104.647713226205100
200799.6659451567467119.309197639095108.182941903585100
200899.3231037154379116.729285884023110.877626699629100
200991.5307384894759110.147524453607112.064276885043100
201090.7621606289648110.586822347675112.608158220025100
201184.832680345117113.448681142945113.102595797281100
201285.9492897858642113.620161461244113.349814585909100
201384.8217681868359115.250187857652113.547589616811100

Air Pollutant Emissions

Sulphur dioxide emissions increased by 0.8% in 2013. Nitrogen oxide emissions increased by 0.7% (see Tables 5 and 6).

Emissions of both ammonia and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) increased by 2% between 2012 and 2013 (see Tables 7 and 8).

Carbon monoxide was the only air pollutant whose emissions decreased in 2013 (see Table 9).

Small particulate matter (PM2.5) had the largest percentage increase on 2012 figures at 3.4%, while larger particulate matter (PM10) emissions rose by 1.6% (see Tables 10 and 11).

PollutantPercentage change 2004-2013Percentage change 2012-2013
Sulphur dioxide-65.7405678654230.801514827348582
Nitrogen oxides-41.03126020108220.721022857524064
Ammonia-4.284673707638941.74970107996092
Carbon monoxide-43.8035777220012-4.64083502573719
NMVOCs-14.84079471681012.03753203763667
PM2.5-16.22311342072543.42898131102543
PM10-12.105584414011.58336523818942

Air Pollutant Emissions by NACE Sector

The NACE sector distribution of air emissions is shown for each of the seven pollutants in Figure 5 below.

PollutantAgriculture, Forestry and FishingIndustryServicesHouseholds
Sulphur dioxide0.43694854527132163.88250578968752.9359288583569632.7446168066842
Nitrogen oxides9.4240003950885331.731484442819433.163762470556625.6807526915354
Ammonia98.66492093758660.2284251660111020.1153975942922450.991256302110025
Carbon monoxide1.4256189747978622.90376972441769.5866738533357666.0839374474488
NMVOCs47.793297144279912.59899756046186.9652414223989532.6424638728593
PM2.514.809189874068814.10062247281047.5364748676786763.5537127854421
PM1043.568316497433310.08196279851345.488429135395140.8612915686583
Table 1 Greenhouse Gas Emissions (CO2, N2O, CH4, HFC, PFC, SF6, NF3) by NACE Sector
'000 tonnes CO2 equivalent
NACE Rev. 22004200520062007200820092010201120122013
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (01-03)21,16821,28020,80619,73419,78719,75019,72419,09319,65719,799
           
Industry (05-43)26,96527,60926,92526,26625,86621,61521,43219,54520,47719,243
Mining and quarrying (05-09)392348431437407333219237218242
Food products, beverages and tobacco products (10-12)1,3501,6231,4631,4211,4881,3611,2741,1201,0981,194
Textiles, wearing apparel and leather products (13-15)253126212221168711
Wood and paper products and printing (16-18)16415212411510793105586875
Coke and refined petroleum products (19)337412382365368316311286314295
Chemicals and chemical products (20)354332258225140949897101122
Basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations (21)248264251214281288260226225197
Rubber and plastic products and other non-metallic mineral products (22-23)4,5394,7614,6554,7864,2662,7822,4412,1552,4622,410
Basic metals and fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment (24-25)1,4611,1861,4881,5781,5741,2581,5501,5091,5071,488
Computer, electronic and optical products (26)414490402440445336241126121122
Electrical equipment (27)73867878794340374314
Machinery and equipment not elsewhere classified (28)56575356625278454746
Transport equipment (29-30)37363538333222131413
Furniture; other manufacturing; repair and installation of machinery and equipment (31-33)13016618315917816215990105101
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply (35)14,92515,32914,61114,13614,21412,66812,95111,59512,32010,908
Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities (36-39)1,8361,7221,8191,4631,6131,3751,3131,3391,2941,463
Construction (41-43)624611666733589404354605533542
           
Services (45-96)7,2997,8157,9118,0557,6356,8476,5146,2826,0706,042
           
Households13,83614,64614,81514,98215,51115,19015,19913,84213,33213,670
           
Total greenhouse gas emissions69,26871,34970,45669,03768,80063,40262,87058,76259,53658,755
Table 2 Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Emissions
'000 tonnes C02
NACE Rev. 22004200520062007200820092010201120122013
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (01-03)1,4571,5181,4451,4791,4081,3111,3611,2451,0851,307
           
Industry (05-43)24,50525,19324,46624,19823,89019,93119,80417,82618,82117,440
Mining and quarrying (05-09)349311399385360303193209193216
Food products, beverages and tobacco products (10-12)1,2461,4841,3261,2871,3211,2011,124957917989
Textiles, wearing apparel and leather products (13-15)253025212120168710
Wood and paper products and printing (16-18)16315112311410591104576773
Coke and refined petroleum products (19)337411381364367315310285313294
Chemicals and chemical products (20)35233025622313992969498114
Basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations (21)246262249212279285259225223195
Rubber and plastic products and other non-metallic mineral products (22-23)4,5264,7454,6394,7684,2482,7692,4262,1422,4492,395
Basic metals and fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment (24-25)1,4551,1811,4831,5721,5681,2541,5451,5031,5031,484
Computer, electronic and optical products (26)126178151199263226170838886
Electrical equipment (27)54625458371720131213
Machinery and equipment not elsewhere classified (28)52514851534673414142
Transport equipment (29-30)36353538333121131413
Furniture; other manufacturing; repair and installation of machinery and equipment (31-33)1281641791561741581558710298
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply (35)14,73915,13914,41213,93414,00712,46812,75211,40512,13710,738
Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities (36-39)738279122375286213139176184
Construction (41-43)598577628694541368328563481494
           
Services (45-96)6,9617,3927,4787,6157,1716,3705,9905,7725,5385,438
           
Households13,11913,84914,01414,19714,70214,37014,39913,05612,62212,873
           
Total carbon dioxide emissions46,04247,95247,40347,49047,17141,98241,55437,89838,06737,057
Table 3 Nitrous Oxide (N2O) Emissions
'000 tonnes N2O
NACE Rev. 22004200520062007200820092010201120122013
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (01-03)25.025.724.621.622.223.023.522.223.322.4
           
Industry (05-43)0.80.80.90.91.00.91.00.90.90.9
           
Services (45-96)0.30.30.30.30.30.30.30.30.30.3
           
Households0.50.50.50.40.30.30.30.30.30.3
           
Total nitrous oxide emissions26.627.326.223.323.824.625.123.724.823.9
Table 4 Methane (CH4) Emissions
'000 tonnes CH4
NACE Rev. 22004200520062007200820092010201120122013
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (01-03)490.1484.4481.7472.4470.4463.4454.1449.3464.9471.9
           
Industry (05-43)70.965.669.053.448.741.842.145.942.448.6
Water supply; sewerage; waste management and remediation activities (36-39)66.061.165.048.944.738.639.143.239.946.3
Other industry4.94.54.04.64.03.23.02.72.52.3
           
Services (45-96)0.60.60.60.60.60.60.60.60.60.7
           
Households8.38.78.58.18.59.08.67.97.78.1
           
Total methane emissions569.9559.2559.7534.5528.3514.8505.3503.7515.6529.3
Table 5 Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) Emissions
'000 tonnes SO2
NACE Rev. 22004200520062007200820092010201120122013
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (01-03)1.11.10.90.80.40.50.40.10.10.1
          
Industry (05-43)58.557.848.743.336.523.818.217.716.616.2
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply (35)44.042.536.830.825.215.79.59.49.68.7
Other industry14.515.311.912.511.48.18.78.37.07.5
          
Services (45-96)2.82.52.22.11.30.90.90.80.80.7
          
Households11.712.611.210.79.39.28.88.17.68.3
          
Total sulphur dioxide emissions74.174.063.056.947.534.428.326.725.225.4
Table 6 Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) Emissions
'000 tonnes NOx
NACE Rev. 22004200520062007200820092010201120122013
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (01-03)1616141313119887
           
Industry (05-43)56575454452926212525
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply (35)323230272213128109
Other industry23252527231615131417
           
Services (45-96)41414241373229282626
           
Households21212121212120191920
           
Total nitrogen oxide emissions1341361321291169385767879
                
Table 7 Ammonia (NH3) Emissions
'000 tonnes NH3
NACE Rev. 22004200520062007200820092010201120122013
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (01-03)110.5109.7109.0106.0107.2108.6107.0103.2104.4106.3
           
Industry (05-43)0.20.30.30.30.30.20.30.20.20.2
           
Services (45-96)0.10.20.20.20.20.20.10.10.10.1
           
Households1.72.32.12.01.91.71.51.31.21.1
           
Total ammonia emissions112.6112.5111.6108.5109.6110.7108.9104.9105.9107.8
                
Table 8 Non-Methane Volatile Organic Compound (NMVOC) Emissions
'000 tonnes NMVOC
NACE Rev. 22004200520062007200820092010201120122013
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (01-03)44444343424241414243
           
Industry (05-43)17171819151412121111
           
Services (45-96)991010977766
           
Households36363534333331292929
           
Total NMVOC emissions1061061061061009791898890
Table 9 Carbon Monoxide (CO) Emissions
'000 tonnes CO
NACE Rev. 22004200520062007200820092010201120122013
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (01-03)4433332222
           
Industry (05-43)41433939362930293128
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply (35)22232020181516161916
Other industry19201919181514121212
           
Services (45-96)22222120201614131212
           
Households152149137127120112100918481
           
Total carbon monoxide emissions219217201189179159146135129123
 
Table 10 Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Emissions
'000 tonnes PM2.5
NACE Rev. 22004200520062007200820092010201120122013
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (01-03)2.92.82.72.62.62.52.42.32.42.3
           
Industry (05-43)4.04.34.03.73.52.72.72.32.32.2
           
Services (45-96)2.22.22.12.01.81.51.31.31.21.2
           
Households9.810.210.09.810.310.910.49.69.510.1
           
Total PM2.5 emissions18.919.418.718.118.117.616.815.515.315.9
Table 11 Particulate Matter (PM10) Emissions
'000 tonnes PM10
NACE Rev. 22004200520062007200820092010201120122013
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (01-03)11.911.611.311.111.511.311.211.211.311.2
           
Industry (05-43)4.65.04.64.24.03.13.02.72.62.6
           
Services (45-96)2.62.52.42.32.11.71.61.51.41.4
           
Households10.210.610.410.310.711.410.810.09.910.5
          
Total PM10 emissions29.229.628.627.928.327.526.625.425.325.7
Table 12 Greenhouse Gas Emissions
'000 tonnes
GasUnit2004200520062007200820092010201120122013
CO2 emissions CO246,04247,95247,40347,49047,17141,98241,55437,89838,06737,057
            
N2O emissionsN2O27272623242525242524
 
CH4 emissionsCH4570559560535528515505504516529
 
HFC, PFC, SF6, NF3 emissionsCO2 equivalent1,0511,2811,2551,2531,3191,2311,2071,2091,1831,329
Table 13 Air Pollutant Emissions
'000 tonnes
Pollutant2004200520062007200820092010201120122013
SO2 emissions74746357473428272525
          
NOX emissions1341361321291169385767879
          
NH3 emissions113113112108110111109105106108
          
CO emissions219217201189179159146135129123
          
NMVOC emissions1061061061061009791898890
           
PM2.5 emissions19191918181817161516
           
PM10 emissions29302928282827252526

Background Notes

Environmental Accounts Air Emissions

Introduction                        

These environmental accounts categorise emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants into the atmosphere by economic sector.

Data sources                     

The figures presented in this release are based on the air emissions inventories submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency annually to the United Nations under the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change). 

Revisions                            

This release incorporates revisions to the air emissions estimates previously published by the CSO, including updated Global Warming Potentials for methane and nitrous oxide (see below).

Greenhouse gases           

The three main greenhouse gases included in this publication are carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4).  As greenhouse gas emissions from human activities increase, they build up in the atmosphere, warming it through the greenhouse effect.  Because many of the major greenhouse gases stay in the atmosphere for tens to hundreds of years after being released, their warming effects on the climate persist over a long time and can therefore affect both present and future generations.

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.

There are other greenhouse gases: hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3). Emissions of these gases account for approximately 2% of the total greenhouse gas emissions for Ireland and are included in the total of greenhouse gases in Tables 1 and 12.  There are several types of HFC and PFC, each of which have separate global warming potential conversion factors.

Global warming potential

Greenhouse gas emissions by different gases are compared using the global warming potentials (GWPs) for a 100-yr time horizon from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report of 2007. The GWP is a measure of the global warming effect of a given mass of a greenhouse gas compared to the global warming effect of the same mass of carbon dioxide. The GWP for methane is 25 and that of nitrous oxide is 298. The GWPs of the fluoridated gases vary but many are in the thousands or tens of thousands.

Greenhouse gas emissions may be converted into units of CO2 equivalent using their global warming potentials. Further details are available at the IPCC website (https://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg1/en/ch2s2-10-2.html).

Air pollutants      

Sulphur dioxide (SO2) is a gas which is formed when sulphur-containing fuels (mainly coal and oil) are burned in power stations.  Exposure to high concentrations of SO2 can lead to breathing difficulties for people with long-term respiratory conditions such as asthma.

Nitrogen oxides (NOx) are produced during combustion at high temperatures with the main sources in Ireland coming from vehicles and power stations. The industrial sector is also a significant contributor to NOx levels, particularly the cement production industry.  Exposure to NOx is linked to adverse respiratory effects, and long-term exposure increases the risk of respiratory infection in children.

Ammonia (NH3) emissions arise primarily from animal manure and nitrogen based fertilisers.  Exposure to high levels of ammonia may irritate the skin, eyes, throat and lungs.

Non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) are emitted as gases by an array of products including paints, paint strippers, glues, adhesives, and cleaning agents.  They also arise as a product of incomplete combustion of fuels and as such are a component of car exhaust emissions.  Exposure to NMVOCs can lead to eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, loss of coordination, nausea and damage to the liver, kidney, and central nervous system.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless gas that is formed when incomplete oxidation of carbon-containing fuels occurs during combustion.  Motor vehicles are the main source of carbon monoxide in Ireland, although tobacco smoke and poorly adjusted or maintained combustion devices such as boilers also contribute.  Carbon monoxide concentration tends to be higher in areas with heavy traffic congestion.  Carbon monoxide enters the bloodstream through the lungs, where it hinders delivery of oxygen to body tissue.  Exposure to CO in ambient air is most serious for people with cardiovascular diseases.

Particulate matter of median aerodynamic diameter 2.5 microns (PM2.5) or ‘fine’ particulate matter is particle pollution composed of a mixture of solids and liquids. Depending on the source of the matter these can include nitrates and sulphates, volatile organic compounds, metals, soil and dust particles.   The main sources of particulate matter of median aerodynamic diameter 10 microns (PM10) in Ireland are the burning of solid fuels and vehicular traffic.  The adverse health effects of particulate matter arise from its ability to penetrate deep into the respiratory tract.

Forestry sequestration    

No adjustment has been made for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from forest sequestration.

Air transport                       

Only gases and pollutants resulting from domestic Landings and Take-Offs (LTOs) and cruising from one Irish airport to another are accounted for under IPCC guidelines. Emissions from international flights are not included in the inventory.

NACE allocation            

Emissions are distributed across NACE sectors according to the correspondences between Common Reporting Format (CRF)/Nomenclature For Reporting (NFR) codes in the Air Emissions Inventory and NACE Rev. 2 sectors. 

In some cases there is a one-to-one correspondence between the CRF/NFR codes and a NACE Rev. 2 sector.  In this case, the total emissions from this CRF/NFR code are attributed to that NACE Rev. 2 sector.  In many cases, a single CRF/NFR corresponds to more than one NACE sector.  In these cases, emissions are assigned across NACE sectors by using expenditure on fuel by each NACE sector. 

Data for all years has been presented using the NACE Rev. 2 classification, which came into effect in 2008.

Electricity and gas supply           

Emissions from the production of electricity and gas are allocated to the suppliers of energy rather than the end users, and so are allocated to NACE Rev. 2 division 35 (Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply).

Road transport              

Road transport emissions are attributed to individual economic sectors according to the principal activity of the business.  If the transport of passengers or freight is the principal activity of a business, then the related emissions are attributed to NACE Rev. 2 division 49 (Land transport).  If road transport is a secondary or ancillary activity to the main business, then the related road transport emissions are allocated to the main NACE division of the enterprise. 

Detailed data from the Environmental Protection Agency’s road transport emissions model are combined with the CSO's Road Freight Transport data, private vehicle registration data and road traffic volumes data to allocate road transport usage across NACE sectors. 

There is one CRF/NFR code for road transport in the EPA Air Emissions Inventory.  This emissions figure is generally distributed across NACE sectors by using expenditure on transport fuel by each NACE sector.

Road freight transport data are allocated initially by using the tonne-km data collected by the CSO.  This data allocates emissions to the main NACE sectors responsible for road freight as identified in the CSO Road Freight Transport Survey.  For the remaining unspecified sectors, emissions are apportioned across NACE sectors using expenditure on transport fuel by each NACE sector.

Emissions from private cars are split into household vehicles, small Public Service Vehicles (which are assigned to NACE 49) and company cars, whose emissions are distributed across all NACE sectors proportionally according to expenditure on transport fuel by each NACE sector. 

Emissions from buses are allocated to NACE 49.  Emissions from motorcycles are allocated to households.

Landfill waste                     

Landfill waste accounts for approximately 7% of methane (CH4) emissions.  The NACE Rev. 2 classification for waste treatment is NACE 37-39 (Sewerage and waste management).  Most landfill sites are owned and operated by local authorities who are categorised under NACE 84 (Public Administration and Defence).  However, all CH4 emissions from landfill waste have been classified under NACE 37-39, as this is the NACE sector of the local unit.

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