Greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector increased by almost 70 per cent from 1997 to 2005, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
However, emissions causing acid rain fell by 25 per cent during the same period.
Total greenhouse gas emissions have increased by 9 per cent according to Ireland's Environmental Accounts 1997-2005, the most recent data from the CSO on the environmental impact of all sectors of the economy.
The transport sector was the worst offender in terms of increased greenhouse gas emissions during this period, rising from the fourth biggest producers of greenhouse gas emissions in 1997 to the second biggest in 2005.
The actual volume of emissions from transport rose from 8,600 tonnes to 14,400 tonnes, an increase of close to 70 per cent.
Emissions from the services sector increased by almost 23 per cent over the same period.
Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is still the economy's biggest greenhouse gas polluter, emitting 19,300 tonnes in 2005, but this was still a drop of more than 10 per cent on 1997 when more than 21,500 tonnes were emitted by the sector.
Emissions from the industrial sector, which was the second biggest greenhouse gas polluter in 1997, remained largely stable over the period - falling from 12,900 tonnes to 12,800 tonnes.
Emissions from residential pollution, greenhouse gases caused by households, also stabilised, increasing slightly from 10,000 tonnes in 1997 to 10,300 tonnes in 2005.
Acid-rain-causing emissions fell in every sector of the economy over the period, resulting in an overall fall of 25 per cent.
Agriculture, which accounted for half of all the acid-rain-causing emissions in 1997, accounted for 60 per cent of emissions in 2005. However, the actual volume of acid rain gases caused by agriculture has dropped from 243,000 tonnes in 1997 to 218,000 tonnes in 2005.
The transport sector reduced emissions by more than 20 per cent from 52,100 tonnes to 41,200 tonnes. The residential sector experienced an even greater fall, from 51,500 tonnes to 31,800 tonnes - a reduction of nearly 40 per cent.
The services sector recorded a fall in acid rain producing emissions of 38,000 tonnes to 26,000 tonnes, a drop of more than 30 per cent.
