Agriculture and households driving 2023 greenhouse gas emissions
New figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) highlight the continuing challenge of reducing Ireland’s territorial greenhouse gas emissions, with six sectors accounting for 78% of all emissions in 2023.
Agriculture and Households remain the largest contributors, together responsible for 62% of the national total.
Agriculture accounted for 38% of Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2023, making it the single largest emitting sector.
Despite this, its economic footprint is comparatively modest: the sector represented just 1% of Gross Value Added (GVA) and 4% of national employment.
The CSO also notes Agriculture’s central role in Ireland’s wider production ecosystem.
In 2021, 44% of the output of the Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing sector was used as an input to food manufacturing, underscoring how deeply linked agricultural activity is to downstream sectors such as food processing and exports.
Households were responsible for 24% of emissions in 2023, ranking second among emitting sectors.
Breaking down household emissions:
41% came from fossil fuels used for heating
41% came from fossil fuels used in private vehicles
17% came from electricity use, including electricity for heating and transport
These figures show that everyday energy and transport choices continue to play a major role in Ireland’s emissions profile.
Industrial and transport sectors showed mixed performance:
The Manufacture of Cement & Other Non-Metallic Minerals accounted for 6% of emissions, with emissions rising 52% between 2011 and 2023.
The Land Transport sector, covering goods vehicles and passenger transport, accounted for 3% of emissions. Notably, emissions here fell by 30% from 2011 to 2023, reflecting efficiencies or shifts in activity.
The Information & Communications sector also represented 3% of emissions, but contributed a much larger share of economic activity—20% of GVA and 6.5% of employment—highlighting its comparatively low-emission, high-value nature.
Meanwhile, the Manufacture of Food, Beverages & Tobacco sector made up 3% of total emissions in 2023.
Emissions in this area were 9% higher than in 2011, but GVA rose substantially faster—up 66%, according to the CSO.
Ireland’s total territorial greenhouse gas emissions in 2023 were 5% lower than in 2011.
This reduction occurred during a period of significant economic and demographic expansion: the population grew by 15%, while modified gross national income (GNI) in constant 2023 prices increased by 55%.
The latest CSO data points to a complex landscape for emissions reduction in Ireland.
High-value sectors such as Information & Communications produce a small share of emissions relative to economic output, while Agriculture and Households remain central to the challenge of decarbonisation.
For businesses, the figures highlight the importance of sector-specific strategies, continued innovation in low-carbon technologies, and the economic opportunities emerging from Ireland’s transition to a lower-emission economy.
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