This document provides an overview of Ireland's environmental performance and policies based on an OECD review. It finds that while Ireland has made progress in some areas like renewable energy and carbon pricing, it still faces challenges meeting its climate and environmental targets. Agriculture is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. Energy still relies heavily on fossil fuels, and transport patterns are dominated by private car use. Air quality issues persist from heating and transport. Water quality has declined and biodiversity is a concern. The document recommends accelerating policies like expanding protected areas, banning smoky fuels, and increasing investment in areas like retrofits, public transport and clean technology research to improve sustainability.

1. Ireland 2021
Rodolfo Lacy
OECD Environment Director
Launch presentation
10 May 2021
Environmental
Performance
Reviews

2. Many environmental pressures
have risen since the mid-2010s
Source: CSO (2020), “National Accounts”, StatBank (database); FAO (2020), FAOSTAT (database); IEA (2020),
IEA World Energy Statistics and Balances (database); OECD (2020), OECD Environment Statistics (database).
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
2005=100
Primary
Energy Supply
Domestic
Material
Consumption
Municipal
Waste
N2 balance
GNI
NOx
GHG
NH3

3. Ireland will miss its
GHG 2020 non-ETS target
Source: EPA (2020), Ireland's Greenhouse Gas Emissions Projections 2019-2040.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
2020
non-ETS
target 2030
non-ETS target
TOTAL
Non-ETS
ETS
GHG
Mtons CO2e
with existing measures
with additional measures
It should timely implement the
Climate Action Plan to
meet the 2030 target

4. Agriculture accounts for a
large share of GHG emissions
Source: OECD (2020), OECD Environment Statistics (database)
 Set a target on biogenic
methane emissions
 Ensure consistency between
agriculture production and
climate mitigation objectives
Agriculture
Transport
Residential and other sources
Waste
Energy Industries
Manufacturing industries and construction
Industrial processes and product use
Others
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
New
Zealand
Ireland
Denmark
Latvia
Lithuania
France
Australia
Sweden
Iceland
Switzerland
Turkey
Spain
Finland
Hungary
Portugal
Slovenia
Netherlands
United
States
Austria
United
Kingdom
Norway
Greece
Belgium
Canada
Poland
Germany
Estonia
Italy
Czech
Republic
Luxembourg
Slovak
Republic
Japan
GHG emissions by sector
2018

5. Renewables have grown…
not enough to meet the 2020 targets
Source: Eurostat (2020), Energy Statistics (database).
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2020
Electricity
Transport
Heating & cooling
Overall renewable energy
Progress towards 2020
renewable energy targets
Ireland committed to nearly double the 2019 share of
renewables in electricity production to 70% by 2030

6. Fossil fuels
dominate the energy mix
Source: IEA (2020), IEA World Energy Statistics and Balances (database).
Oil
47%
Natural Gas
34%
Coal
7%
Renewables
11%
Ireland
2019
OECD
2019
Oil
35%
Natural Gas
29%
Coal
14%
Renewables
11%
Nuclear
10%
Ireland committed to phase out coal
and peat power generation

7. Energy efficiency
of new buildings has improved
…but home heating relies on
carbon-intensive fossil fuels
Residential Heating by Fuel
2018
PHOTO: Dry peat bricks
Source: IEA (2020), IEA World Energy Statistics and Balances (database).
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Ireland
Belgium
Luxembourg
Lithuania
United Kingdom
Finland
Latvia
Denmark
Sweden
Norway
Estonia
Netherlands
OECD Europe
OECD
Coal
Peat
Oil
Natural gas
Biofuels and waste
Other renewables
Electricity
Heat
Ireland
Belgium
Luxembourg
Lithuania
United Kingdom
Finland
Latvia
Denmark
Sweden
Norway
Estonia
Netherlands
Coal
Peat
Oil
Natural gas
Biofuels and waste
Other renewables
Electricity
Heat
%
 Accelerate the phase-out of
fossil fuel boilers
 Better target energy
efficiency grants to deep
retrofits and social housing

8. Air quality is generally good,
localized pollution persists due to
transport and domestic heating
Source: OECD (2020), OECD Environment Statistics (database)
Accelerate the
extension of the
ban on
bituminous fuels
towards a
nationwide ban
Expand the
scope of the
ban to other
“smoky” fuels
(peat and wet wood)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Finland
Sweden
Estonia
New
Zealand
Iceland
Norway
Australia
Canada
United
States
Ireland
Portugal
Denmark
Spain
United
Kingdom
Switzerland
Luxembourg
Lithuania
France
Germany
Netherlands
Austria
Latvia
Belgium
Japan
Greece
Italy
Hungary
Czech
Republic
Slovenia
Slovak
Republic
Israel
Mexico
Colombia
Poland
Chile
Korea
µg/m3
Mean concentration of PM2.5
2019
WHO guideline

9. Municipal waste generation has increased
less municipal waste goes to landfills but
recycling has stagnated
PHOTO: Dublin Waste to Energy - Covanta incineration plant
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
3,500
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
EUR/t
Mt Municipal waste treatment
Recycling
Composting
Incineration
(energy recovery)
Other recovery
Landfill
Source: EPA (2020), National Waste Statistics -Report for 2018.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
3,500
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
EUR/t
Mt Municipal waste treatment
Recycling
Composting
Incineration
(energy recovery)
Other recovery
Landfill
 Implement the Waste
Action Plan for the
Circular Economy,
including the foreseen
levies
 Mandate waste service
providers to set
differentiated collection
fees for unsorted,
recyclable and organic
waste
Landfill tax rate

10. Water quality has declined
more groundwater bodies suffer from nitrate pollution
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
2007-09
2013-18
2007-09
2013-18
2007-09
2013-18
2007-09
2013-18
2007-09
2013-18
Rivers Lakes Transitional Coastal Groundwater
Water quality status, % of water bodies
Bad
Poor
Moderate
Good
Swiftly implement
measures to address
diffuse water pollution
from nutrient losses
High

11. Water supply and wastewater treatment
infrastructure is ageing
and needs to be upgraded
Source: OECD (2020), OECD Environment Statistics (database)
Accelerate
investment in water
infrastructure
Re-consider
introducing household
water charges
Ensure environmental
compliance of
independent
wastewater treatment
systems and small-
scale water supplies
61%
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
%
Percentage of population connected to at least
secondary wastewater treatment
2017

12. The conservation status of several
habitats is of concern
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Habitats
Species
Assessments of conservation status
of habitats and species
% in each category
Favourable Unknown Unfavourable-inadequate Unfavourable-bad
Photo: Puffin in a natural habitat
Source: EEA (2020), National Summary Dashboards -Habitats Directive Art. 17 (database);

13. Little progress made in extending the
protected area network
the quality of key habitats
has deteriorated
2021
Marine and terrestrial protected areas
Source: OECD (2020), OECD Environment Statistics (database)
 Expand marine
protected areas
 Implement site-
specific
conservation
measures
 Restore bog
habitats
0
10
20
30
40
50
%
EXCLUSIVE
ECONOMIC
ZONE
2%
14%
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
%
TOTAL
LAND

14. Half of the public investment
of the COVID-19 recovery package was
environment- and climate-related
Source: OECD Secretariat based on Government of Ireland (2020), July Jobs Stimulus 2020, Department of the Taoiseach, Government of Ireland,
Dublin; Department of Finance (2020), “July Stimulus” Policy Initiative: Overview of economic support measures, Department of Finance, Dublin. .
Continue to prioritise
investment in low-carbon
transport infrastructure and
energy efficiency, and to
promote eco-innovation and
reduction of the carbon
footprint of agriculture
Green Investment in Ireland’s
COVID-19 Recovery Package
EURO 250 million
Energy Efficiency
National Retrofit
Programme
Cycling
Walking Peatland
Restauration
Water
Infrastructure
Rails

15. Ireland has stepped up public capital
investment for the green,
low-carbon transition
… but needs to
mobilise the
private sector to
cope with high
investment needs
Source: CSO (2020), “Environmental subsidies and similar transfers 2018”, StatBank (database).
Environment-related transfers
and subsidies, by domain
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
1,600
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Others
Air and climate
Energy efficiency
Renewable energy
Biodiversity
Wastewater
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
1,600
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Others
Air and climate
Energy efficiency
Renewable energy
Biodiversity
Wastewater
EUR million

16. Government R&D outlays for environmental
and energy research are insufficient
Source: OECD Science, Technology and R&D Statistics (database).
R&D budgets for energy and environment
as percentage of total government R&D budgets,
OECD countries
2019
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%

17. Green technology patents are low
Note: Data refer to patent applications filed in the inventor's country of residence according to the priority date and apply solely to
inventions of high potential commercial value for which protection has been sought in at least two jurisdictions. Environment-related
technologies cover all the domains related to environmental management, water-related adaptation and climate change mitigation.
Source: OECD (2020), "Patents", OECD Environment Statistics (database). Photo: Flexible solar cells from ruthenium.
Ireland
5%
OECD
Europe, 11%
OECD, 10%
World, 9%
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
%
 Increase
government
spending on
R&D related to
environment
and climate
 Extend direct
funding
instruments to
encourage
eco-innovation
in SMEs

18. Average fuel
excise tax
Average explicit
carbon tax
Ireland raised the carbon tax
to EUR 33.5/tCO2
and committed to bring it
to EUR 100 by 2030
Source: Calculations of the OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Administration based on OECD (2019), Taxing Energy Use 2019: Using Taxes for Climate Action.
EFFECTIVE TAX RATES
on CO2 emissions
OECD Europe 2018 and Ireland 2020
 Gradually
increase the
diesel tax
rate to
match the
petrol tax
rate
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
EUR/tCO2
Road emissions

19. 0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Non-road emissions
Ireland raised the carbon tax
to EUR 33.5/tCO2
and committed to bring it
to EUR 100 by 2030
EFFECTIVE TAX RATES
on CO2 emissions
OECD Europe 2018 and Ireland 2020
 Maintain the
commitment to
progressively
increase the
carbon tax rate
Source: Calculations of the OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Administration based on OECD (2019), Taxing Energy Use 2019: Using Taxes for Climate Action.
Average fuel
excise tax
Average explicit
carbon tax
EUR/tCO2

20. Ireland has reduced fossil fuel subsidies
it phased out support to peat-fired
power generation in 2019
Source: OECD (2020), OECD Inventory of Support Measures for Fossil Fuels (database).
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
EUR million
Consumption support by fuel type
Petroleum
Coal
Natural
gas
 Develop a plan to
phase out tax
exemptions and
rebates for fuel
used in
agriculture,
fishery and road
transport
 rebrand the fuel
allowance and
delink it from
heating

21. Ireland’s mobility patterns and trends are a
source of rising GHG emissions
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
2000=100
GNI and road transport trends
Modified GNI, constant prices
Passenger cars
Bus, coaches
GHG emissions by road
transport
Road freight
Note: Based on data expressed in passenger-km and tonne-km. Modified GNI: Gross national income in constant prices,
excluding highly mobile economic activities that affect the measurement of the Irish economy
Source: CSO (2020), “National Income and Expenditure Annual Results 2019”, StatBank (database); EPA (2020), Ireland's
Provisional Greenhouse Gas Emissions 1990-2019 (website); OECD-ITF (2020), Transport Statistics (database).

22. THANK YOU
htpp://oe.cd/epr-ireland

23. Walk
13%
Bus
5%
Cycle
1%
Rail/DART/Luas
2%
Lorry/motorcycle/other
5%
Private cars dominate mobility patterns
One person journeys
by mode
2019
Private car
74%
81.4%
0 20 40 60 80 100
Iceland
Lithuania
Turkey
Slovenia
Greece
Estonia
Ireland
Latvia
Portugal
Norway
% of passenger-km
Passenger
cars
Buses and
coaches
Modal split of land
passenger transport
2018

24. The public investment gap between roads
and sustainable mobility has narrowed,
but roads still dominate
18%
27% 30% 28%
31% 28%
23%
32%
39% 37% 34% 36% 34% 34%
81%
72%
69% 71%
69% 68%
72%
63%
57% 58% 60% 60% 62% 62%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Sustainable mobility
Road
Note: Percentage shares of gross expenditure for land transport. Sustainable mobility includes carbon reduction and public service provision.
Source: DPER (2020), "Gross Expenditure By Vote History" DPER Databank (database).
Share of
investment
for road
maintenance
and
sustainable
mobility on
total land
transport
funding

25. Ireland provides generous subsidies
to buy electric vehicles
0.2
0.8
0.2
1.2
2.6 3.0
4.3
9.1
13.6
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
3,500
4,000
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
N. of EVs
EUR
millions
Electric vehicle (EVs) purchase grant
and new registrations
Annual grant expenditure
Total electric vehicles
supported (right axis)
Note: Grants from the Sustainable Energy Authority for the purchase of electric vehicles (2019 data up to July) and number of electric vehicles licensed for the first time.
Source: CSO( 2020), "Vehicle Licensing Statistics", StatBank (database); Kevany (2019), Spending Review 2019: Incentives for personal Electric Vehicle purchase.