09 July 2024
Reduction in agriculture emissions in 2023
Ireland’s Provisional Greenhouse Gas Emissions 1990-2023 report published today, July 9, by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has pointed to a reduction in the emissions from Irish agriculture.
Analysing factors such as emissions from fertiliser application, ruminant digestion, manure management, agriculture soils and fuel used in agriculture, forestry and fishing, the analysis shows that agriculture emissions decreased by 4.6% to 20.8 Mt CO2eq in 2023.
The most significant driver for the reduction in emissions in 2023, the report states, was a decrease in use of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser by 18%.
Additionally, livestock numbers declined; cattle numbers decreased by 0.8% (non-dairy -1.1%; dairy +0.6%), sheep numbers fell by 1.2% and pig numbers were back by 4.3%. Despite dairy cow numbers increasing by 0.6%, milk output per cow and overall production was reduced.
The three primary greenhouse gases of concern for the agricultural sector are methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide:
- Originating from enteric fermentation (ruminant digestion), manure management and fuel combustion, the EPA reports that methane emissions contributed 72.1% to the agriculture sector in 2023 and have decreased by 2.1% since 2022.
- Nitrous oxide emissions, which occur through manure management, agriculture soils and fuel combustion, contributed 21.3% to the agriculture sector in 2023 and have decreased by 9.2% since 2022, reflecting the reduction in fertiliser use.
- Stemming from liming, urea application and fuel combustion, carbon dioxide emissions contributed 6.6% to the agriculture sector in 2023 and have decreased by 14.6% since 2022.
A reduction in the volume of lime spread over the course of 2023, declining from 1.42 million tonnes in 2022 to 1.0 million tonnes in 2023, is linked to this reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. However, the report notes that as liming is a mitigation measure, elevated levels of lime application improve soil fertility, leading to sustained reductions in fertiliser nitrogen usage and a net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Along with the reduction witnessed in agriculture, the EPA reports that Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 6.8% (4.0 Mt CO2eq) in 2023, with reductions in almost all sectors. This is the lowest that greenhouse gas emissions have been in three decades, and below the 1990 baseline.
Additionally, the report shows that the largest single year reductions in the energy and agriculture sectors and the lowest level of residential emissions since 1990, while transport emissions were below pre-Covid levels.
Commenting on the report Laura Burke, Director General, EPA said: “Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2023 were at their lowest level in over three decades, as a result of the largest reduction in emissions outside of recession.
“These are significant findings that signal the impact of climate action and decarbonisation measures across Ireland’s economy and society. We see the impact of more renewables and interconnection powering electricity, less fossil fuel use in home heating, reduced nitrogen fertiliser use in agriculture and more biofuel in transport.”
She added: “The data indicates a move towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions at the scale and pace required to meet our climate ambition of a 51% reduction by 2030. However, while these are positive results for the year 2023, we are still well off track in terms of meeting EU and national 2030 targets. We need to maintain and further build momentum.”
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