THE LATEST report on greenhouse emissions in the European Union shows that Ireland is in the bottom half of the table of the 27 states in terms of meeting its Kyoto targets.
The European Environment Agency (EEA) yesterday published its official inventory report which showed that emissions in the EU decreased slightly between 2005 and 2006.
Overall emissions fell by 14 million tonnes (or 0.3 per cent) and now stand at 7.7 per cent below 1990 levels. In all, 5,142 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent were emitted in the 27 member states in 2006.
The fall was even greater among the EU15 (the 15 member states of the EU before accession in 2004), which cut emissions by 35 million tonnes (or 0.8) per cent.
The Irish figures for 2006, already published domestically, show a very marginal decrease from the previous year of 0.6 million tonnes or 0.8 per cent. In all, 69.8 tonnes of greenhouse gases were emitted.
Irish emissions rose by 25.6 per cent between 1990 (the base year for Kyoto targets) and 2006, which is 12.6 per cent above our target. Energy and agriculture remain the biggest factor in Ireland, though agricultural emissions (now 28 per cent) have been declining. The biggest problem within Ireland is the transport sector, where emissions increased by 180 per cent between 1990 and 2006. Year-on-year, emissions in transport increased a further 5.2 per cent between 2005 and 2006.
It is generally acknowledged that Ireland's Kyoto targets were comparatively generous compared to other EU countries. However, it is lagging behind countries like the UK, Sweden and France, which are already running ahead of their Kyoto targets.
Other states such as Germany, Belgium, Greece and the Netherlands all look like they will comfortably reach their commitments under the Kyoto protocol.
The reductions in those countries have been attributed to the use of technology and better efficiencies in power plants and heavy industry. In the UK, a major switch from oil and coal to gas in electricity production has also been a major factor.
Of the accession countries, all but Slovenia have achieved significant reductions, thanks to what the EEA describes as "the decline of energy-inefficient heavy industry". However, in a slightly worrying trend, most recorded small increases during 2006.
Ireland is by no means the worst performer. Spain's emissions were 35 per cent above its target in 2006. The other states with big gaps between emissions and goals were Luxembourg (29 per cent); Austria (28 per cent) and Denmark (23 per cent).
A spokesman for Minister for the Environment John Gormley accepted that the figures did not paint a rosy picture and said Ireland faced a substantial challenge by reducing current emissions by 12 per cent by the end of 2012.
The figures relate to the year before the Greens entered Coalition. The spokesman said that both Mr Gormley and Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan (both Green) were taking steps to address the issue, with such measures as the new systems of motor tax and vehicle registration tax, new regulations for buildings as well as the ESB's long-term commitment to become carbon neutral.
Fine Gael's spokesman on energy Simon Coveney said the Government's climate change policy was an "utter failure" compared to other EU countries.
"There seem to be no courage to bring about change or take the hard decisions," Mr Coveney said. "The two Green Ministers sound like Al Gore but don't seem to back up their words with actions."