Greenhouse emissions fall because of recession

The recession caused Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions to fall by 5.4 million tonnes (7.9%) last year – but we’re still not in compliance with our Kyoto Protocol targets.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions fell across all sectors last year, most noticeably in the industry and commercial sector where there was a 20% drop.

But the EPA reckons that in 2008 and 2009 we were still 6.2 million tonnes above our target ‘limit’ under the Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse emissions. Agriculture remains the single biggest contributor to Ireland’s emissions, at 29.1% of the total.

Dr Mary Kelly, director general of the EPA, said Ireland should use the recession as an “opportunity to embed fundamental emission reductions in the economy in order to meet the very stringent EU 2020 limits which we face.”

“We should not rely on a recession to meet our targets for the future,” she warned.

Ireland's experience tallies with that across Europe. Last month, the European Environment Agency (EEA) reported that emissions across the EU's 27 states fell by 6.9% last year. The EEA says this puts Europe's emissions 17.3% below 1990 levels.

In Ireland last year, emissions from agriculture decreased by only 0.3 million tonnes (1.5 %). This decline is thought to reflect lower sheep and pig numbers and a reduction in gasoil use on farms. Residential emissions fell by less than 1%.

Podcast of July 29's show

On this programme:

1. Christina talks to Gemma Larkin of the Nevitt Lusk Action Group about the upcoming judicial review of the EPA's licence for the planned north Dublin landfill.
2. Jeannie talks to Irish Times environment editor Frank McDonald about noise pollution in Temple Bar, where he lives.
3. Louise looks at the development of the docklands as the new observation wheel opens.
4. Plans to convert Dublin's street lighting to LED.

And...

5. The controversy over sewage facilities at the new National Convention Centre.

As well as this week's environmental news.



Presented by Christina McSorley. Reports by Jeannie McCann and Louise Finan. News by Valerie Flynn. Produced by Valerie Flynn.

Coming up on tomorrow's show...

Dublin City Council is to debate whether Bank of Ireland should hand over its College Green premises to the public.
Ahead of the Kings of Concrete festival, we'll be asking whether graffiti is art or vandalism.
16 years of the EPA: Jeannie McCann interviews the agency's Micheál Ó Cinnéide.
And why is the Irish Seal Sanctuary moving out of its North County Dublin home?
Plus the latest environmental news from Dublin.
Tune in at 3pm to 103.2 Dublin City FM.

News just in: Gulf of Mexico is far away

The Irish Times reports the EPA's assurances that no oil from the BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico will reach Ireland.

An EPA spokeswoman said that: “Due to the distance between the Gulf of Mexico and Europe and also the nature and frequency of autumnal storms in the Atlantic Ocean, the likelihood is that the oil will disperse and evaporate in the ocean, possibly leaving 'tar balls' which should sink to the bottom before reaching Ireland."

It's not clear who was worrying about this in the first place.

Speaking of the oil spill, this article from The Onion is very good. "A thick coat of oil should help these animals tremendously, especially with the cold weather coming."

In other news today, the Herald reports that Dublin City Council is going to do something about the morning jam on Camden Street's so-called 'Quality Bus Corridor'. Apparently buses there move at an average of 5km per hour, which is more or less the same as a person walking.

And the big shiny yoke at the bottom of Infirmary Road has won a prize.