Greenhouse gases see small decrease

Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions were at 126.9% of 1990 levels in 2001, about 14% above the Kyoto 2008-2012 target for Ireland of 113% of 1990 levels.

The situation improved in the period 2002-2004 with emissions decreasing to a level of 123.5% of 1990 levels, or 10.5% above the Kyoto target, in 2004.

Details of the change are contained in today's Measuring Ireland's Progress, 2005 report issued by the Central Statistics Office.

The percentage of waste landfilled in Ireland decreased from 79.3% in 2002 to 66.4% in 2004.

Textiles, plastic and organic waste were the materials most likely to be landfilled with more than 93% of textile waste, 81% of plastic waste and almost 74% of organic waste landfilled in 2004.