07/06/2013

NI Gas Emissions Fall 5%

Northern Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions decreased by over 5% between 2010 and 2011, according to the latest figures.

A new report, Greenhouse Gas Inventories for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, 1990-2011, has been published today, indicating Northern Ireland’s 2011 emissions are estimated at 19,827 kilotonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.

This shows a fall of over 5% compared to 2010.

The Department of the Environment says the decline is due mostly to a reduction in burning oil use in the residential and business sectors after the exceptionally cold weather in 2010, as well as a reduction in emissions from coal consumption at power stations.

The 2011 emission levels also show a longer-term decrease of over 17% since the base year, 1990.

The largest sources of emissions in 2011 were agriculture (28%), transport (21%), energy supply (19%) and residential (16%).

Most emission source sectors have seen a general trend of declination since the base year, with energy supply experiencing a 30% reduction and residential sector emissions decreasing by 25%.

The DoE says this is mostly down to the increased use of gas in power stations and residential properties over the years.

However, transport emissions have increased by 25% since the base year due to growth in transport demand.

Despite this, since peaking in 2007 there has been a reduction in transport emissions of almost 9% over the last four reported years.

UK greenhouse gas emissions have reduced by 29% since the base year, with England and Scotland having the greatest percentage reductions of almost 31% each and Northern Ireland having the lowest percentage reduction of just over 17%.

Carbon dioxide is the main greenhouse gas, and accounted for 69.1% of all greenhouse gas emissions in Northern Ireland in 2011 (13,700 kt CO2e).

(IT/MH)


Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

07 June 2010
Poots Tackles NI's Greenhouse Gases
There's to be a new group to tackle greenhouse gas emissions for Northern Ireland. The Stormont Environment Minister Edwin Poots revealed that he is to chair the organisation and also issued a positive response to the NI Environment Committee's recent 'Inquiry into Climate Change Report'.
10 June 2014
NI Sees Lowest Greenhouse Gas Reduction In UK
Northern Ireland has seen the lowest reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 to 2012, when compared to the rest of the United Kingdom, it has been revealed. The latest emission figures in the Greenhouse Gas Inventories for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, 1990-2012, were published today.
30 September 2024
NI Executive Approves Environmental Improvement Plan
The Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Minister Andrew Muir has welcomed the Executive's approval of Northern Ireland's first Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP).
25 September 2009
NI 'Greenhouse' Pollution Falls
Greenhouse gas emissions in Northern Ireland have fallen by 13% since 1990, a new report has revealed. According to the latest figures in AEA Technology's, 'Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland', carbon dioxide emissions also decreased in that time by 9%.
16 February 2005
WWF urge NI to keep up with Kyoto strategy
WWF Northern Ireland today urged the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Investment (DETI) to put an effective long-term energy strategy in place to help deal with climate change.