Agriculture emissions below peak levels, but rising fast
IN 2016, some 61.2 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions were generated across the economy, primarily from agriculture, transport, power generation, waste and the residential sectors.
Despite Government pledges to reduce emissions in line with our EU and international obligations, they continue to rise, and are at the same levels they were in 2009. Agriculture is the biggest source of the overall total, contributing 32pc of total emissions. It is followed by energy and transport at just over 20pc each.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says the most significant drivers for the increased emissions between 2015 and 2016 were higher dairy cow numbers, which were up 6.2pc in 2016 compared with 2015, with an increase in milk production of 4pc. “The 2016 emissions for all these sectors are heading in the wrong direction, making achievement of our long-term goals ever more difficult,” the EPA says.
Power generation and heavy industry are subject to the Emissions Trading Scheme, which means that each installation is “allowed” to produce a certain amount of carbon — if it produces less, it can sell some of its allowance. If it produces more, it must buy additional allowances.
However, Governments are responsible for ensuring that all other polluting sectors reduce emissions under EU rules and the Paris Climate Accord. If power generation and the ETS sector is removed, cows and cars — or transport and agriculture — account for 73.3pc of total Irish emissions,
In the five-year period 2012 to 2016, dairy cow numbers have increased by 22pc and corresponding milk production by 27pc, reflecting national plans to expand production under Food Wise 2025 and the removal of the milk quota.
The EPA says while agricultural emissions reached a peak in 1998, and have fallen to below their 1990 level since 2002, this reflects a long-term decline in livestock populations and fertiliser due to the CAP.
Agricultural emissions were 3.5pc below their 1990 levels in 2016, but have increased in 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016, suggesting more work is needed.