Greenhouse gas emissions will have to decrease by more than 10pc annually until 2030 to meet the national climate target, according to the EPA.

Ireland’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published its provisional greenhouse gas emission figures for Ireland for 2025 and what stands out is that compared to 2024, emissions have fallen by 2.2pc, with reductions across all of the country’s main sectors. 

There are still significant changes to be made, however, as the data also found that if Ireland is to reach the future target of a 51pc reduction compared to 2018 levels, emissions will have to fall by more than 10pc each year until 2030. 

Commenting on the findings of the report, Dr Eimear Cotter, the EPA director general, said: “This is the fourth year in a row that Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions have reduced which is welcome in the context of a growing economy and population. However, with just four years to 2030, Ireland needs to accelerate delivery and achieve much deeper annual reductions to meet our climate targets.”

She added: “The evidence shows that clear prioritisation and sustained investment can deliver emissions reductions. Since 2005, emissions covered by the Emissions Trading System, including large point sources such as power generation, have fallen by over 52pc. By contrast, greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, transport and buildings have collectively fallen by only 12pc. “

She said this highlights the challenges Ireland faces in reducing greenhouse gas emissions across multiple sources, explaining that the priority now is on accelerating delivery in select sectors by removing barriers and focusing on making low-carbon choices practical, affordable and attractive.

The EPA also found that emissions from Ireland’s energy industries decreased – for the fourth consecutive year – by 7.1pc in 2025. The reduction in this sector’s emissions was due to a number of factors, including a large share of energy generation coming from renewables (40.6pc) and an increase in the share of imported electricity (from 14.1pc in 2024 to 16.4pc in 2025).

Emissions from transport decreased for the second year in a row, dropping by 1.5pc. The EPA said this was due to an increase in the use of biofuels along with a 35.4pc rise in electricity consumption for road transport.

In regard to agriculture, emissions decreased slightly by 0.2pc due to a 3.3pc reduction in cattle numbers offset by a 12.7pc increase in nitrogen fertiliser use and a 4.8pc increase in milk production.

For residential, commercial and public buildings, emissions dropped by 4.7pc. The EPA said this was due to a warmer winter and the decreased use of fossil fuels.

Meanwhile, manufacturing combustion and industrial processes emissions decreased by 3.3pc due to reductions in coal (25.5pc), oil (6.2pc) and gas (2.7pc).

While Ireland remains under allowed figures as dictated by the carbon budget, the assessment also found that several sectors such as energy industries and buildings are meeting or coming within their sectoral ceiling limits, while others, such as transport and industry have exceeded them. 

Dr Conor Quinlan, the EPA programme manager, said: “Sectoral ceilings are intended to make climate progress measurable and accountable. The fact that some sectors, such as energy industries and buildings, are provisionally on track is encouraging, but the overshoots in transport and industry show that the overall carbon budget remains at risk unless delivery strengthens across all sectors.”

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