Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions down for fourth consecutive year

Ireland has seen its greenhouse gas emissions fall for the fourth year in a row, with a 2.2% decrease recorded in 2025. However, this progress is insufficient to meet the nation's legally binding climate targets. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stated that Ireland must now achieve annual cuts exceeding 10% from now until 2030 to comply with national climate law.

EPA director general Eimear Cotter noted that the modest reductions achieved demonstrate that "clear prioritisation and sustained investment can deliver emissions reductions." Progress was observed across several sectors. Transport emissions, which constitute 22% of the national total, fell by 1.5%. This reduction is attributed to increased biofuel requirements and a rise in electric vehicle adoption, which helped curtail emissions growth despite a growing vehicle fleet.

Agriculture, the largest source of emissions at nearly 39% of the total, saw a 0.2% decrease. This was primarily due to a 3.3% reduction in cattle numbers, the second consecutive year of decline after 13 years of increases. However, a significant rise in fertilizer use offset some of these gains, as fertilizer use emits nitrogen gas.

Emissions from buildings dropped by 4.7%, largely due to a milder winter and increased use of electric heat pumps, with an additional 37,000 homes adopting the technology in 2025. Industrial and manufacturing emissions also fell by 4.7%, driven by reduced clinker production for cement and a shift to renewable energy sources. Energy production emissions decreased by 7.1%, with renewables like wind and solar providing 5.8% more electricity, though they still only match gas-fired generation.

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clear prioritisation and sustained investment can deliver emissions reductions