Energy-related emissions fell in Ireland last year to their lowest level in three decades but are not falling fast enough to meet climate targets, according to new analysis by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.
It says that emissions across electricity generation, industry, transport and heating fell by 7.3% in 2023.
If this rate of decline continues Ireland will not stay within its carbon budget for the 2021-2025 period and the SEAI says annual cuts of 11% will be needed in 2024 and 2025 to stay on track.
Margie McCarthy, Director of Research and Policy Insights at SEAI, said: "The reduction in energy-related emissions in 2023 is encouraging, it shows movement in the right direction in some sectors.
"It is clear from the data that pace is critical. We have no time to wait.
"SEAI’s mission is to be at the heart of Ireland’s energy revolution, and that revolution needs fast action right across Irish society to meet our legally binding climate targets."
The sector which saw the biggest cut in emissions was electricity generation which achieved a 21% fall despite rising demand.
The big change in this area was a 12-fold increase in imported electricity, bringing it to 9.5% of the total grid supply and third largest source of power after gas and wind.
Emissions from imported electricity are not counted in Ireland’s carbon budget as they are counted in the country of origin.
The imported energy came from Northern Ireland, Britain or Norway via the UK.
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Northern Ireland’s power sector has a similar emissions profile to the Republic while the UK and Norway have lower carbon emissions thanks to large wind and hydro power sectors.
2023 was also a record year for wind and solar power in Ireland.
A new record of 11.7 Terrawatt of wind generation was set, with the extra wind generation last year equivalent to the electricity needs of 115,000 homes.
But again, the pace of change is lagging behind what is needed.
Ireland needs to install 27% more wind capacity to reach 2025 targets.
Electricity from solar power quadrupled in 2023 but it remains just under 2% of the overall supply.
While emissions from electricity generation fell, they rose slightly in the transport sector by 0.2%.
The road transport demand for both petrol and diesel increased.
Petrol sales reached 96.2% of pre-pandemic levels, while diesel sales came to 98.4%.
But increased blending of renewable biofuel into road diesel in 2023 reduced the amount of petrochemical diesel Ireland needed by 2%.
Aviation was the transport sector with the fastest rising emissions.
Ireland used 1.36 billion litres of jet kerosene in 2023 - the highest annual demand ever recorded and up 12.7% on the previous year. This reflects the record number of passenger flights in and out of Ireland last year.
"Transport is an area where collective action is needed urgently", the SEAI said.
Ms McCarthy said: "We have to get out of our cars more and consider our air miles.
"The benefits of collective action to curb our fossil fuel use will create a better Ireland, with improved air quality, more comfortable homes, more vibrant communities, and an economy built on sustainable industries and jobs."
