Climate · emissions beyond borders
Since 2018, Ireland has caused more emissions abroad than at home
Emissions from Irish consumption are falling, as long as they happen in Ireland. The emissions in factories, power plants and fields elsewhere, for goods, food and buildings, are rising. Ireland's Climate Action Act doesn't count them.
- The footprint of Ireland is 32–36 percent higher than official emissions according to the national inventory (via Eurostat). Exactly how much depends on the model.
- 58 percent of the footprint arises abroad (2022), against 44–49 percent in 2010. Since 2018 it has been more than half in every model.
- Official emissions fell by 4 percent between 2010 and 2022, while the footprint rose by 5–11 percent.
- Per person, Ireland causes 14.0 tonnes, more than the EU average of 9.0 tonnes (rank 1 of 27, Eurostat 2023). Between 2010 and 2019 the footprint rose by 59 percent, while it fell in most EU countries; between 2019 and 2023 it fell by 29 percent, faster than in most EU countries.
- Outside Ireland, most emissions for Irish consumption are released in China, United States and United Kingdom.
- Whether Ireland is a net importer or exporter of emissions differs between models. Since 2010, what it earns from foreign demand grew by 239 percent (real); the emissions for it rose by 27 percent.
- Satellites see less methane over Ireland than the country reports: 0.5× the reported amount (2023). The largest gap is in livestock.
In short
Emissions caused by Irish consumption and investment, by location
The official figure falls faster than the footprint
The figure in the news is emissions on Irish territory, according to the national inventory (via Eurostat). It fell by 4 percent between 2010 and 2022. The footprint rose by 5–11 percent over the same years. The official figure counts emissions for what is exported, but not for what is imported.
Ireland compared with the other EU countries
Per person, Ireland causes 14.0 tonnes of greenhouse gas (Eurostat, 2023), more than the EU average of 9.0 tonnes, rank 1 of 27.
Checked from space
Satellites measure how much methane hangs in the air. From that, scientists can work back to how much a country emits. That puts an independent measurement next to the official figures.
Where the emissions occur
For Irish consumption, most emissions abroad occur in China, followed by United States, United Kingdom and Germany. Pick a year or play the timeline. Click a country to see how it changed since 2010.
Who Ireland emits for
In 2022, 41–45 megatonnes of greenhouse gases were released in Ireland for consumption and investment in other countries. Meanwhile, 42–45 megatonnes were released elsewhere for Irish consumption. Whether Ireland imports or exports more emissions depends on the model.
How we calculate
A footprint follows every euro that households, government and companies spend on final products back through the supply chain, to the country where the emissions occur. So-called input-output models do this, built on trade statistics and emission inventories from dozens of countries.