Environmental Indicators Ireland 2024

3.1 Ireland: Particulate matter emissions 1990-2022

Emissions of particulate matter PM_2.5 in Ireland were at 10,700 tonnes in 2022, down 12% from the 2021 figure of 12,200 tonnes. The 2022 figure was also 59% lower than the 1990-1994 average figure of 26,000 tonnes.

The Residential and Commercial sector accounted for most of this reduction, falling from an average of 18,200 tonnes of PM_2.5 emissions in 1990-1994 to 5,250 in 2022. Even so, this was the still the largest sector contributing to these emissions in 2022.

3.2 EU: Particulate matter emissions 2022

Luxembourg was the EU Member State with the largest decline in PM_2.5 emissions between 2005 and 2022, with an index number of 41.2 in 2022 compared with a base of 100 in 2005. Ireland’s index number in 2022 was 56.6 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 2005-2022 period with an index number of 89 in 2022 compared with 100 in the base year of 2005.

Looking at the changes in the data between 2021 and 2022, Slovenia had the largest fall in emissions (down 15%) whilst emissions in Malta had the largest increase, at 12%. Ireland’s emissions fell by 12% between these years, the fourth largest decrease in the EU27.

3.3 Ireland: Sulphur oxide emissions 1990-2022

Ireland’s emissions of sulphur oxides fell by 27% from 12,900 tonnes in 2021 to 9,500 tonnes in 2022. The 2022 figure was also 95% lower than the average 1990-1994 figure.

Emissions from power stations accounted for most of this reduction, falling from an average of 97,500 tonnes in 1990-1994 to 1,900 in 2022.

The fall in emissions from power stations is mainly due to a shift from oil and coal to gas, the installation of technologies which reduce sulphur emissions and the increasing reliance on renewable energy sources.

3.4 EU: Sulphur oxide emissions 2018-2022

Ireland’s emissions of sulphur dioxides equivalents in 2022 were 9,500 tonnes, down 26.9% on the 2021 figure.

Luxembourg had the largest fall in emissions between 2021 and 2022, down 40.6% while Bulgaria had the highest percentage increase in emissions of sulphur oxides, up 32.3% in 2022 compared with 2021, as seen in Table 3.1.

3.5 Ireland: Nitrogen oxide emissions 1990-2022

Ireland’s nitrogen oxide emissions fell by 4.1% from 96,800 tonnes in 2021 to 92,800 tonnes in 2022. The 2022 figure was 47% lower than the average annual figure of 174,800 tonnes in 1990-1994.

Emissions from power stations declined by 84% over this period while emissions from transport fell by 52%. Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries was the sector with the highest level of emissions in 2022 at 40% of the total.

3.6 EU: Nitrogen oxide emissions 2018-2022

The largest increase in emissions of nitrogen oxide over 2021-2022 in the EU27 occurred in Bulgaria where emissions increased by 8.3%. In Ireland emissions fell by 4.2% over this period, compared with the EU27 average decline of 3.6%. Luxembourg experienced the greatest decline in the emissions of nitrogen oxides between 2021-2022 with a decrease of 17.7%.

3.7 Ireland: Ammonia emissions 1990-2022

Ireland’s emissions of ammonia fell by 1.1% from 130,100 tonnes in 2021 to 128,600 tonnes in 2022. The 2022 figure was 7.8% higher than the average figure of 119,300 tonnes in 1990-1994.

Almost all ammonia emissions are attributable to the agricultural sector, with emissions directly from soil the largest contributing factor at 40% of total emissions in 2022.

3.8 EU: Ammonia emissions 2018-2022

The largest increase in emissions of ammonia in the EU27 between 2021-2022 occurred in Bulgaria where emissions rose by 0.7%. Ireland’s ammonia emissions fell by 1.1% between 2021 and 2022, the third worst performance in the EU. The EU27 average emissions of ammonia fell by 4.5% between 2021 and 2022. In Italy, which was the best performing EU Member State, emissions fell by 10.7% over this period.

3.9 Ireland: NMVOC emissions 1990-2022

Ireland’s emissions of Non-Methane Volatile Organic Compounds fell by 1% from 110,800 tonnes in 2021 to 109,700 tonnes in 2022. The 2022 figure was 26% lower than the average figure of 148,600 tonnes in 1990-1994.

Agriculture, forestry and fishing was the sector with the highest emissions over the 1990-2022 period. In 2022, it accounted for 39% of total NMVOC emissions, compared with an average of 29% in 1990-1994.

Emissions from the food and beverage industry tripled from an average of 9,900 tonnes in 1990-1994 to 30,900 tonnes in 2022.

Emissions from the transport sector declined by 92% from an average of 34,400 tonnes in 1990-1994, to 2,900 tonnes in 2022.

 Emissions form the residential and commercial sectors also declined significantly, by 74% from 30,700 tonnes to 8,000 tonnes, over this time frame.

3.10 EU: NMVOC emissions 2018-2022

The largest increase in emissions of NMVOC’s between 2021 and 2022 period in the EU27 occurred in Denmark where these emissions increased by 8.7%. In Ireland, NMVOC emissions fell by 1% between 2021 and 2022, compared with an EU average decrease of 2.8%. The best performing EU Member State was Latvia where emissions fell by 11.1% over this period.