More effort will be needed for Ireland to meet its EU greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, according to new figures released by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA).

Ireland's EU target is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, transport, the built environment, waste and non-energy intensive industry by 20% by 2020.

The latest projections show that:

• Ireland's non-Emissions Trading Scheme sector annual emissions are projected to be 9% to 14% below 2005 levels by 2020. This compares to the 2020 target of 20% below 2005 levels.

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• Overachievement of annual limits in the period 2013-2017 under the best case scenario will allow Ireland to cumulatively meet its compliance obligations over the period 2013-2020.

Laura Burke, EPA Director General, said: "Our economy is now beginning to grow again and we must balance our focus on growth with a focus on becoming more sustainable and reducing emissions.

"Considerable effort will be needed between now and 2020 to implement key policies and measures in order to deliver projected emissions reductions. These include improvements in energy efficiency across the industry, commercial and residential sectors and reducing emissions from transport."

(CD/JP)