Northern Ireland’s net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2023 were estimated to be 18.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtC02e), a report published today (June 10) have revealed.
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) published a statistical bulletin on greenhouse gas emissions for Northern Ireland during the period 1990-2023.
The net figure is a result of an estimated 20.1 MtCO2e total emissions, offset by 1.9 MtCO2e of emissions removed through sequestration.
This represents a 7.1% decrease compared with 2022. The longer-term trend showed a decrease of 31.5% compared with 1990.
According to the report, in 2023 the agriculture sector was the largest emitter, accounting for 30.8% of total emissions.
Domestic transport was the second largest contributor, with responsibility for 21.5% of overall emissions.
The buildings and product uses sector, along with the land use, land use changes, and forestry (LULUCF) sector, contributed 13.8% and 11.8% respectively.
Additionally, the Electricity Supply sector accounted for 11.7% of emissions.
Report
According to the report, between 2022 and 2023, the majority of sectors, with the exception of fuel supply and LULUCF, had a decrease in emissions.
It said that the largest decrease came in in the electrical supply, buildings and product uses, and agriculture sectors.
It has also claimed that in 2023, Northern Ireland contributed 4.7% of all of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Between 1990 and 2023, there has been a 52.7% reduction in emissions in the UK. During the same period, the reduction in emissions in Northern Ireland was 31.5%,
The reduction in emissions between 1990 and 2023 was 55.1% in England, 52.7% in Scotland, and 38.5% in Wales.
The estimates were produced by Ricardo Energy and Environment on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, the Welsh Assembly, Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.
