Greenhouse gas levels fall because of recession

FOR THE first time reductions in emission levels were recorded across all categories including industry and commercial; energy; transport; agriculture; residential and waste, according to figures from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Announcing the greenhouse gas levels for 2009 in Dublin yesterday, the agency said emissions fell from 2008 levels by 5.4 million tonnes to 62.32 million tonnes.

This means the State will not need to purchase any more carbon credits to meet its greenhouse gas emissions targets before 2013.

However, the agency warned that without the economic recession Ireland would have been a long way from its Kyoto targets for 2013.

It also warned any economic upswing would have to be carefully “greened” to avoid a major problem with emissions in the EU accounting period to 2020.

In the industry and commercial sector emissions fell by 20 per cent with emissions from the cement industry in particular falling by 38 per cent, a feature the agency said reflected the decline in the construction industry.

The falling demand for electricity and the use of renewable energy resources contributed to emissions from the energy sector falling 10.7 per cent while emissions from the transport sector declined by about 7.7 per cent.

Emissions from agriculture continued to decline from a 1998 peak, a feature which was attributed to fewer livestock. The agriculture reduction was in the order of 1.5 per cent. In the residential area emissions fell by 0.9 per cent. The agency said the figure reflected a slightly reduced demand for energy from householders “despite 2009 being similar weather-wise to 2008”.

The reduction in emissions from waste was in the order of 4.2 per cent which was accounted for by the owners of landfills increasing measures to deal with methane.

Commenting on the figures, which are provisional, Dr Mary Kelly, director general of the EPA, said the magnitude of the reductions was “unprecedented”.

She said the 20 per cent cut in emissions from the industry and commercial sector “particularly” reflected the impact the severe economic recession was having on industrial output.

Dr Ken Macken, a programme manager with the EPA, remarked that the State had purchased carbon credits for eight million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, at a cost of €73.3 million. It had been predicted the State would need credits for as much as 18 million tonnes of carbon emissions. But he said it was now believed credit already purchased would be sufficient.

Laura Burke, director of the agency, said the State should not “depend” on an ongoing recession to keep emissions low.