In this second part of the 2024 Annual Review, the Climate Change Advisory Council outlines detailed observations and recommendations for the Industry and Waste sectors.a Ireland needs to reduce and ultimately prevent emissions of greenhouse gases, including those arising from the Industry and Waste sectors.
The most recent data indicate a small reduction in industrial emissions in 2023. One of the primary sources of industrial emissions in Ireland is cement production; emissions from cement production decreased in 2023 due to lower production levels, with half of the cement produced being exported. Industrial investment in technologies to reduce manufacturing emissions more generally is still limited. Unfortunately, the most recent data indicate an overall increase in waste emissions. The largest contributor to waste emissions is methane produced by decomposing waste in landfill sites. The volume of waste being produced remains too high, and the rates of reuse and recycling are insufficient and considerably below the EU average.
