Greenhouse gas emissions from cars and vehicles have almost doubled in Ireland in the last seven years.
According to figures published yesterday, greenhouse gas emissions were also 31 per cent above 1990 levels by 2001, which is 18 percentage points above Ireland's Kyoto target. Ireland's commitments under the Kyoto protocol limit greenhouse gas emissions to 13 per cent above 1990 levels between the years 2008 and 2012.
The data, collated by the Central Statistics Office in its Environmental Accounts for Ireland, showed that emissions from the the transport sector had risen by 94 per cent between 1994 and 2001. Transport now accounts for nearly one fifth of all greenhouse gas emissions in the country.
Industry, which accounts for a fifth of emissions, rose by 29.7 per cent, while emissions from the agricultural sector, which accounts for the largest proportion of greenhouse gases (30 per cent) were the same in 2001 as they were in 1994.
According to the report, transport had the fifth highest level of emissions in 1996, but had risen to the third highest three years later.
A spokesman for the Department of the Environment acknowledged that there were major challenges for Ireland in meeting its Kyoto commitments. "The Government is seriously engaged with all the players in tackling this problem."
However, it has emerged that some of the major industrial sources of greenhouse gases will not be subject to the proposed carbon tax.
Under the proposals being examined by the Department of Finance, firms which take part in the emissions trading scheme will be exempt from the proposed tax. It is due to come into force in 2005 and is aimed at reducing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
The emissions scheme, which is being prepared by the Department of the Environment, will allot free quotas to major companies allowing them certain levels of greenhouse gas emissions. They would then have to buy extra emission licences on an international market to exceed their quotas.
The Department of the Environment has confirmed that any firms involved in the emissions trading scheme will be exempt from paying carbon tax.
A spokesman denied this was "letting the big polluters off the hook".
He said there was a fixed quota of emissions allowances for Ireland and these will be rationed.
"They will feel the pinch," he said.