Ireland's carbon emissions fall in 2002, despite economic growth

Dublin (Platts)--16Aug2004

Ireland's energy-related carbon dioxide emissions decreased by 1.4% in 2002,
according to new figures from Sustainable Energy Ireland, published Monday.
This decline occurred despite economic growth of 6.9% and energy consumption
showing a slight increase of 0.1% in the same period. The SEI says this marks
the first time since 1990 that energy consumption has significantly decoupled
from economic activity and that CO2 emissions have decoupled from energy
growth. However, Ireland remains heavily dependent on imported energy, mainly
oil and gas, which accounted for 89% of total energy consumption compared with
an EU average of 50%. David Taylor, chief executive of SEI, couldn't say
whether the 2002 figures were an anomaly or whether they are the first signs
of a reversal of the previous upward trend in energy related greenhouse gas
emissions. But Taylor did acknowledge that "improved efficiency, together with
further switching from oil to gas in electricity generation, had the effect of
reducing emissions associated with electricity supply."

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