Ireland faces considerable challenges to become a low carbon economy, according to figures from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The projections also showed Ireland is unlikely to meet its 2020 EU greenhouse gas emission reduction target.

Ireland's EU target for 2020 is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the non-Emissions Trading Scheme (non-ETS) sector by 20% on 2005 levels. The non-ETS sector covers emissions from agriculture, transport, residential, commercial, non-energy intensive industry and waste sectors.

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For the period 2014-2020, agriculture emissions are projected to increase by 6 to 7%. Transport emissions are projected to show strong growth over the period to 2020 with a 10 to 16% increase on 2014 levels.

Laura Burke, EPA Director General, said: "Ireland must follow a pathway to decarbonising energy, transport and heating. We must break our dependence on fossil energy infrastructures. In addition the agriculture, forestry and land use sectors should achieve effective greenhouse gas emissions neutrality by 2050. This will take planning, investment and time but can be achieved in the overall framework of national, EU and global commitments."

(CD/MH)