Ireland Meets EU Emissions Reduction Targets for All Five Major Air Pollutants
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In 2023 Ireland was compliant with EU Emissions Reduction targets across all five major pollutants: ammonia, non-methane volatile organic compounds, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter. These pollutants can impact air quality, health and the environment.
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Ireland’s ammonia emissions decreased by four per cent in 2023 due to increased use of low emission slurry spreading on farms and a reduction in nitrogen fertiliser use. This brings Ireland into compliance with the EU target for ammonia.
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The ongoing move away from fossil fuel use in power generation and residential heating has been key in driving down emissions in three of the five key air pollutants: sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter.
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Looking forward to 2030, with full implementation of all Government policies and measures, all five key air pollutants are projected to remain in compliance with EU targets.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today published its 2023 assessment of five key air pollutants which impact air quality, health and the environment. The pollutants are:
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ammonia
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non-methane volatile organic compounds
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sulphur dioxide
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nitrogen oxides
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fine particulate matter
Agriculture accounts for over 99 per cent of ammonia emissions in Ireland and has previously been in non-compliance with EU targets. A decrease of four per cent in ammonia emissions in 2023 was driven by an 18 per cent reduction in nitrogen fertiliser use and increased use of low emission slurry spreading. This brings ammonia into compliance with the EU Emission Reduction target.
Commenting on the findings Dr Eimear Cotter, Director of the EPA’s Office of Evidence and Assessment said:
“The EPA assessment shows that Ireland is on track to meet its 2030 EU Emissions Reductions targets for all five major pollutants which has multiple benefits for air quality, human health and valuable ecosystems. It shows that implementation of policies and measures delivers results in terms of reducing air pollutants. In particular, there is a welcome reduction in ammonia emissions in 2023, reflecting the impact and benefits of the on-farm adoption of a range of good farming practices driven and supported by national policies.”
She added:
“The use of low emission slurry spreading on farms avoided the release of 7,000 tonnes of ammonia to the atmosphere. In addition, reduced fertiliser use contributed to reductions in ammonia emissions. Acceleration and widespread implementation of such practices is needed to keep Ireland on the pathway to better air quality and ongoing compliance with EU 2030 targets.”
Ireland is in compliance with EU Emission Reduction targets for the other air pollutants with decreases recorded for these pollutants in 2023. Sulphur dioxide decreased by 21 per cent; fine particulate matter by 11 percent; nitrogen oxides by 7 per cent and non-methane volatile organic compounds by 4 per cent. Less fossil fuel use in power generation and residential heating has been key in reducing these emissions.
Commenting on these findings Dr Tomás Murray, Senior Manager of EPA Emissions Statistics said:
“It is encouraging that our latest assessment projects compliance across all five key air pollutants in relation to EU 2030 targets assuming ongoing and full implementation of relevant Government policies and measures. It is notable that the move away from fossil fuel use in power stations, businesses and homes can deliver multiple benefits across our health, climate and environment in the coming years.”
For further detail on these figures, see the EPA report Ireland’s Air Pollutant Emissions 1990-2030 on the EPA website.
UNECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP)
The LRTAP Convention of 1979 was the first international treaty to deal with air pollution on a broad regional basis. The signatories to the Convention agreed the principles of international cooperation for air pollution abatement. The number of substances covered by the Convention and its protocols has been gradually extended over time, notably to include ground-level ozone, persistent organic pollutants, heavy metals and particulate matter. The Gothenburg Protocol sets out national commitments to abate acidification, eutrophication and ground-level ozone and the European Union has set binding national emission reduction commitments for Ireland in the EU transposition of the Protocol, the National Emission Reduction Commitments Directive.
National Emission Reduction Commitments Directive
Directive (EU) 2016/2284 (replacing 2001/81/EC) ‘on the reduction of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants’ sets national emission reduction commitments for Member States and the EU for five important air pollutants: nitrogen oxides, non-methane volatile organic compounds, sulphur dioxide, ammonia and fine particulate matter. The NEC Directive, which entered into force in December 2016, sets 2020 and 2030 emission reduction commitments for five main air pollutants.
Five main air pollutants
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Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) is the major precursor to acid deposition (including “acid rain”), which is associated with the acidification of soils and surface waters and the accelerated corrosion of buildings and monuments. Emissions of SO2 are derived from the sulphur in fossil fuels such as coal and oil used in combustion activities.
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Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) contribute to acidification of soils and surface waters, tropospheric ozone formation and nitrogen saturation in terrestrial ecosystems. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is also associated with diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. Power generation plants and motor vehicles are the principal sources of nitrogen oxides, through high-temperature combustion.
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Ammonia (NH3) emissions are associated with acid deposition and the formation of secondary particulate matter. The agriculture sector accounts for virtually all (99 per cent) of ammonia emissions in Ireland.
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Non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) are emitted as gases by a wide array of products including paints, paint strippers, glues, cleaning agents and adhesives. They also arise as a product of incomplete combustion of fuels, from the storage and handling of animal manure and fertilisers in agriculture and from spirit production.
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Fine particulate matter (such as dust) of diameter less than 2.5 micrometres is termed PM2.5. Sources include vehicle exhaust emissions, soil and road surfaces, construction works and industrial emissions and agriculture. Particulate matter can be formed from reactions between different pollutant gases and is responsible for significant negative impacts on human health.
In line with new research, the EPA implemented an improvement to the beef and sheep methane models that increased the accuracy of nitrogen excretion estimates and resultant ammonia emissions. This has led to an average of 0.7 kt decrease in ammonia emissions per annum across the time series in comparison to our previous report.
In 2023, Ireland was one of nine EU Member states issued with a reasoned opinion calling on countries to respect their emission reduction commitments as required by Directive 2016/2284. In Ireland’s case the letter related to the exceedance of the 2020 emission reduction commitment for ammonia and the reasoned opinion related to exceedances in 2020 and 2021 of the reduction commitments for ammonia.
