Ireland and the rest of the European Union is falling further behind its Kyoto Protocol target to cut the greenhouse gas emissions blamed for causing climate change, with official figures showing a marginal increase in these emissions in 2003.
Total EU emissions rose by 1.5 per cent, having fallen in 2002, according to the latest annual report from the European Environment Agency (EEA). Increased use of coal for power generation was identified as the main culprit.
Carbon dioxide emissions, which account for 80 per cent of greenhouse gases, increased by 59 million tonnes, or 1.8 per cent, though this was partly offset by reductions in methane emissions from agriculture.
Colder weather in the first quarter of 2003 in several EU countries contributed to an increased use of fossil fuels to heat homes and offices.
The largest rises in emissions under this were recorded in Britain, Finland and Germany.
Since 1990, the base year of the Kyoto Protocol, greenhouse gas emissions in the pre-enlargement member states, known as the "EU-15", have fallen by 1.7 per cent - less than a quarter of the 8 per cent required in the period 2008 to 2012.
Transport emissions rose by six million tonnes (0.7 per cent) between 2002 and 2003. Germany reduced road transport emissions for the fourth consecutive year - this partly offset emission increases from that sector in other EU-15 member states.
Denmark and Austria also saw large relative increases in their emissions, of 7.3 per cent and 5.9 per cent respectively. But reductions were achieved in Portugal (5.3 per cent) and Ireland (2.6 per cent) - mainly due to the closure of IFI fertiliser plants.
Pat Finnegan, of GRIAN (the Greenhouse Ireland Action Network), said the EEA's figures "paint a dismal picture".
They suggested the wealthiest EU countries were failing to keep emissions in check, particularly in the case of private transport.
