Ireland is set to miss its Kyoto target for reducing carbon emissions by 2010, according to projections made by the European Commission.
Ireland languishes close to the bottom of a league of European Union member countries and is ahead only of Spain, Portugal and Greece.
Under current conditions, Ireland will be almost 16% off the target of 13 per cent set under the Kyoto Protocols for reducing its carbon emissions.
However, if additional measures are not adopted, emissions will rise by 29.6%.
Overall, latest projections indicate that the EU 15 Member States may just about reach the target set for the EU at Kyoto. "These projections show there is no room for complacency or error," Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said.
"All Member States must pull their weight to ensure that we deliver on our collective commitment. Those that are not on track urgently need to step up efforts to meet their targets, if necessary by taking further national measures to reduce emissions.
"Only if national allocation plans for the second period of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme are ambitious enough will each Member State be able to achieve its Kyoto obligations," he concluded.