CO2 emissions from energy use down by 4.5% in 2019

CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels used for energy fell by 4.5% in 2019, according to the latest figures from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) released this week.

This marks the biggest yearly reduction in energy related CO₂ emissions since 2011, at the height of the last recession.

Most of the progress was in electricity generation, with little improvement in heat and transport.

The fall in CO₂ emissions was mostly due to a 70% year-on-year reduction in coal used for generating electricity. Energy used for heat in homes and businesses was down in 2019, though most of the reduction was due to it being warmer than 2018.

Transport, the sector that consumes most fossil fuels and where we emit most CO₂, showed no reduction in energy use, and only a marginal reduction in CO₂ emissions.

“The progress we are making in electricity illustrates how replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy leads to emissions reductions – a direct climate action,” said Jim Scheer, Head of Data and Insights at SEAI.

“Increased focus is now being given to how to reduce, and eventually eliminate fossil fuels from heating and transport.”

The figures for 2019 show:

• Overall CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels energy use fell by 4.5%, a reduction of 1.76 million tonnes of CO₂.
• Overall energy use fell by 1.2% while the economy grew by 3.2%, as measured by modified domestic demand.
• Energy from renewable sources accounted for 12% of all energy used, up from 10.9% in 2018. Using renewable energy avoided 5.8 million tonnes of CO₂ – the majority of which (4.8 million tonnes) was from renewable electricity.
• Overall CO₂ emissions from electricity generation fell by 12% (1.2 million tonnes of CO₂). In 2019 wind supplied one third of all electricity.
• Heat energy use fell by 3.1%, mostly due to it being warmer than 2018. CO₂ emissions from energy used for heat fell by 4.3% (0.6 million tonnes of CO₂).
• Transport energy use increased slightly (by 0.5%) but CO₂ emissions fell marginally. This was mostly due to increased blending of biofuels with petrol and diesel.

“We have seen significant changes in the patterns of energy use and emissions since the introduction of public health emergency restrictions,” added Scheer.

“However, when we eventually emerge from the necessary restrictions, it’s likely that many of the gains could be reversed.

The Government has significantly increased momentum on climate action, particularly as an engine of economic recovery.

“Budgets for Government schemes were significantly increased, additional human resources will be applied to supporting homes and business to get off fossil fuels, and research into new technologies and solutions will be expanded.

“At SEAI we are working with Government to make sure we deliver significant annual emissions reductions and in the longer-term, realise the full decarbonisation of Irish society.”