A new report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggests that agriculture recorded one of the “largest sectoral decreases in emissions” by the the end of quarter two, 2024 compared with emissions at the end of quarter two, 2023.
The latest Quarterly Greenhouse Gas Emissions Indicator Report from the EPA shows overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in quarter two 2024 were down by 4.1% on the same quarter last year.
The agency’s research suggests that “the largest sectoral decreases” in emissions were recorded in electricity – down 19.1% and agriculture, which was down 4.6%
According to the EPA there were a number of factors behind the reduction in GHG emissions from the agriculture sector.
In its latest report it stated that the fall in emissions specifically in quarter two 2024 compared to quarter two 2023 was “driven by reductions in the national herd” – down 1.9% – milk production – down 4.4% – and inorganic nitrogen fertiliser and limestone sales – down 13.6% and 23.0% respectively.
EPA
This is the second EPA report in a new series of quarterly GHG emissions for Ireland to “support more frequent monitoring of national and sectoral progress on climate action” – the first was published in October.
The agency has highlighted that the data has “been seasonally adjusted to provide a clearer picture of the underlying trends independent of seasonal fluctuations”.
It has also warned that an increase or decrease in quarterly emissions “does not indicate an overall yearly change in the same direction”.
However, according to the EPA examining the agriculture year-on-year change for quarter two 2024 compared to quarter two 2023 shows that “the largest sectoral decreases in emissions were observed in manure management – where emissions fell 14.1%.
Next it was in agricultural soils, which showed a fall of 6.8% compared to enteric fermentation which fell by 1.9%.
GHG emissions
Separately the latest EPA report also examined GHG emissions for quarter two 2024 compared to quarter one 2024.
The agency found that overall GHG emissions increased by 0.5% and “the largest sectoral increase in emissions was observed in “agriculture which increased by 5.2%”
“This was largely due to adverse weather and ground conditions in the first quarter resulting in delayed fertiliser application, the EPA stated.
It added that the increase was mainly driven by increased inorganic nitrogen fertiliser sales – up by 106% – “following the unseasonably poor weather and ground conditions in the first quarter of the year which may have delayed application”.
However according to the agency “emissions were still down year over year”.