EPA: Agriculture ‘made some progress' in reducing GHG emissions

Agriland

28-05-2025

Total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the agriculture sector 'will range from a
1% increase to a 16% decrease over the period of 2018 to 2030″ according to a new report published today (Wednesday, May 28) by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
According to the EPA these projections are based on the level of adoption of measures contained in the Climate Action Plans, AgClimatise and the Teagasc Marginal Abatement Cost Curve (MACC).
The decrease in GHG emissions would potentially come from a variety of measures including limits on nitrogen fertiliser usage, switching to different fertilisers and 'bovine feed additives'.
Mary Frances Rochford, EPA programme manager, said: 'The agriculture sector has made some progress in reducing emissions through the successful rollout of actions on nitrogen fertilisers, low emission spreading technologies and national liming programmes.
'In parallel, in line with new research, the EPA refined the information underpinning the agricultural figures which has led to a reduction in the overall agriculture emission estimates'.
According to the EPA programme manager, it is now 'imperative that this new research and information is incorporated into updated carbon budgets and sectoral ceilings to ensure that they reflect latest science, data and knowledge on greenhouse gas emissions in Ireland and alignment with the national reduction target for the sector of 25%.'
But in the meantime, a direct comparison of the agricultural sector against its sectoral emission ceiling 'is no longer viable', the agency has detailed in the latest GHG Emissions Projects 2024-2055 report.
EPA
However while the EPA has underlined the 'progress' the agriculture sector has made in relation to reducing GHG emissions, it has also warned that emissions from the Land Use, Land-use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector are projected to increase by up to 95%.
The agency has detailed that GHG emissions from the LULUCF sector are projected to increase 'between 39% to 95% over the period of 2018 to 2030' chiefly because forestry is reaching its 'harvesting age and changes from a carbon sink to a carbon source'.
'Planned policies and measures for the sector, such as increased afforestation, water table management on agricultural organic soils and peatland rehabilitation are projected to reduce the extent of the emissions increase,' the EPA outlined.
It has indicated that, even with current planned measures, it 'is unlikely' that Ireland will meet this sector's European commitments.
Overall, according to the EPA, Ireland is projected to achieve a reduction of up to 23% in total GHG emissions by 2030, compared to a national target of 51%.
Laura Burke, director general of the EPA said: 'The EPA's projections show that full delivery of all climate action plans and policies could deliver a 23% reduction in GHG emissions.
'Although emissions trends are going in the right direction, the gaps to our European and national emission reduction targets are now projected to be larger than last year.
'This highlights the economy-wide effort needed to decarbonise our society and the focus must shift from policy aspiration to practical implementation.'
The EPA's latest report also details that the first carbon budget and second carbon budget are projected to 'be exceeded' with almost all sectors on a trajectory to exceed their national sectoral emissions ceilings for 2030.