Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 1.9% last year, a new report has found.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said the drop was driven by higher fuel prices, increased renewable energy, behavioural change and regulation.
Power generation emissions decreased by 1.9% due to a reduction in coal, oil and peat use and more renewable energy.
It also found agriculture emissions fell by 1.2%, and residential emissions dropped by 12.7%.
Transport emissions increased by 6% as the COVID-19 rebound continues.
Sectoral ceilings and usage 2021-2025. Source: EPAEPA Programme Manager Mary Frances Rochford told Breakfast Briefing the decrease is welcome, but more work is needed.
"We see in the electricity sector it was driven by increased renewable energy, in the residential sector that change was driven by regulation and higher fuel prices," she said.
"In the agriculture sector we see that that was driven by reduced fertiliser use.
"That change in relation to transport exmissions was driven by that increase as result of the COVID rebound.
"What we are highlighting is that we need faster progress on all the actions that are set out in the National Climate Action Plans.
"What this means, for us as we live our lives, are more solar and renewable energy".
Carbon Budget
The report notes that 47% of Ireland's Carbon Budget for 2021 to 2025 has been used in the first two years.
"An extremely challenging annual reduction of 12.4% is required for each of the remaining years if Ireland is to stay within the budget," the EPA said.
Ms Rochford said targets set for Ireland out to 2025 will be harder to reach for certain sectors.
"Particularly when we look at the energy sector, we see that for the energy sector to meet its target out to 2025, what that looks like is an emissions reduction of 17% for '23, '24 and '25.
"Across agriculture that looks like 8%, residential 7%, transport is 5% - so all sectors have their part to play.
"Really what we're saying is that there is a need to increase the pace of delivery in order to decarbonise and to transform all our sectors," she added.
