Northern Ireland’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture are projected to reduce by 1% between 2021 and 2032, according to a new report published today (Friday, September 27).
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) today released GHG projection statistics based on 2021 GHG inventory statistics.
This latest update does not consider the proposals being formulated for the NI Climate Action Plan (CAP).
The Northern Ireland GHG inventory for 1990 to 2021 estimated 2021 emissions to be 22 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e).
This was a 23% decrease on the 29 MtCO2e emitted in the base year (1990).
GHG emissions
The projections in this new report – which provide estimate of emissions of GHG in Northern Ireland from 2022 to 2032 – show that GHG emissions will reduce by 33% between the base year and 2032 to 20 MtCO2e.
Overall projected emissions for 2032 are expected to gradually decrease by 13% (3 MtCO2e) compared to 2021.
The reduction is likely to be mainly driven by the energy supply sector with coal-fired electricity generation coming to an end and as electricity generation switches to using more gas and renewables.
It is forecast that the business and residential sectors will also play a major role, together contributing almost a third of the overall reduction in emissions from 2021 to 2032.
Between the base year (1990) and 2021, the agricultural sector in Northern Ireland increased emissions by 15% (0.8 MtCO2e).
The current emissions projections for this sector are expected to reduce by 1% between 2021 and 2032.
“This gives an overall projected increase in emissions from the agriculture sector of 14% (0.74 MtCO2e) from the base year to 2032.
“Agriculture was the largest source of emissions for NI in 2021 at 28%. This share is expected to increase to 31% in 2032 as other sectors reduce emissions at a faster rate,” NISRA stated.
