Calculating carbon emissions data

Sir, – “Emissions data sent Government into spin mode” is the heading on Eoin Burke- Kennedy’s Economics column (Business, May 20th).

The data turned my head too, with Eurostat “painting Ireland as the continent’s chief climate laggard and the fact that the State’s emissions had increased by 12.3 per cent, almost twice the rate of increase in the next worst country, where emissions rose by 6.8 per cent”. The interesting bit has yet to come, however. Where Irish food producers are attempting to reduce emissions targets of 30 per cent by 2030, “Eurostat calculates emissions on a ‘residence’ basis . . . so emissions from Irish-based airlines are counted as ‘Irish’ whether or not they originate in the States territory”.

When a resident of eastern Europe takes a budget flight, their emissions accrue to Ireland. And it gets worse: “. . . the emissions by Irish resident airlines are accounted for, even if the emissions are emitted outside Irish territory”.

While we re-wet, re-wild and cut our agricultural output, our emissions still spiral ever upwards because our European cousins use Irish-based airlines to go on holidays, leaving us to foot the emissions bill. Clearly now we must immediately ask Ryanair and other Irish domiciled airlines to find a home elsewhere sharpish as we have zero chance of reducing our officially accounted emissions while this system persists. If not, we must continue on the ever increasing treadmill of emissions reductions to facilitate EU tourists taking flight. – Yours, etc,