Transport emissions in Ireland decreased by just 1.2% last year despite advancements in electric vehicle adoption and biofuel usage, according to a new report from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
The modest reduction highlights how the country’s “over-reliance on private vehicles continues to erode progress” toward meeting climate targets, the national sustainable energy authority warned in its interim report for 2024.
Margie McCarthy, SEAI’s Director of Research and Policy Insights, emphasized that Ireland must “reduce our reliance on private vehicles” to meet its climate commitments, noting that “the longer we wait to take meaningful action, the harder it will be.”
The report provides some positive news, showing that Ireland’s overall energy-related emissions have reached their lowest level in over 30 years after falling a further 1.3% last year. This marks an 11% decrease since carbon emissions targets were introduced in 2021 and the third consecutive year of emissions reduction.
However, these gains occurred despite a 2.3% increase in overall energy use, raising concerns about Ireland’s trajectory toward its climate goals. The SEAI had previously warned that Ireland is unlikely to meet its climate obligations even under the “most optimistic scenario.”
The Government’s Climate Action Plan aims to halve Ireland’s emissions by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050. Failing to meet EU-mandated targets could result in “staggering” compliance costs estimated between €8 billion and €26 billion.
The electricity sector showed promising signs with emissions down 7.5% compared to 2023. Ireland’s energy mix consisted primarily of natural gas (42.1%), wind (31.7%), and imported electricity through interconnectors (14%). Renewable energy supplied 14.5% of Ireland’s requirements last year, slightly up from 14% in 2023.
McCarthy acknowledged that while changes are “going in the right direction” with record levels of solar generation and heat pump installations, Ireland’s ability to “meaningfully grow the renewable energy share” faces challenges from increased energy demand.
“If we are to meet our targets, we have no time to wait,” McCarthy stated, calling for accelerated deployment of renewable technologies, continued investment in interconnectors, housing retrofits, and a shift toward “more active and public transport options.”
The SEAI emphasized that meeting climate commitments will require collective action at individual, local, and national levels to embrace renewable technologies, improve energy efficiency, and reduce reliance on private transportation.