Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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107. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which Ireland’s emissions have been reduced in the past six years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50484/23]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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110. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which carbon reduction measures to date are positively impacting on Ireland’s targets in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50487/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 110 together.

Data from the EPA's inventory of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the years 1990 to 2022 show that Ireland's emissions have reduced by 3.1% over the past six years. The most recent EPA inventory figures show that Ireland's emissions fell by 1.8% between 2021 and 2022. This latest reduction was driven by higher fuel prices, reduced use of nitrogen fertiliser, increased renewable energy, behavioural change, and regulation, with reductions observed in our agriculture, industry, energy and residential sectors. These are welcome trends which show that we can successfully lower our emissions during a period of economic growth and population increase, and in part reflect the increased ambition of Ireland's climate policy over recent years.

The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 commits Ireland to a legally binding target of a climate neutral economy by no later than 2050, and a reduction in emissions of 51% by 2030 compared to 2018 levels. Our recent emissions reductions demonstrate Ireland's ability to reverse its emissions trends and start to build momentum towards meeting our ambitious abatement objectives, though the latest projections of Ireland's future emissions trends from the EPA highlight the significant challenge we will face in meeting these targets.

Work is currently underway on Climate Action Plan 2024, and this will support our ambitious decarbonisation programme by setting out an updated roadmap of policies, measures and actions we will deliver in support of our climate commitments and emissions reduction targets. It will take account of the latest emissions reports, and will accelerate and amplify our climate action, fully involving other Departments across Government, as well as key external stakeholders.