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New climate tracker reveals Dublin airport emitted over one million tonnes of CO2 last year

Dublin Airport was the largest emitter of Co2 last year, followed by a Drogheda cement plant.

LAST UPDATE | 10 Nov 2022

A NEWLY LAUNCHED climate tracking website has found Dublin Airport to be the biggest emitter of greenhouse gas in Ireland.

The Climate Trace website was launched yesterday by former US vice president Al Gore at the COP27 climate summit in Egypt.

The free online platform aims to make “meaningful climate action faster and easier by independently tracking greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions”.

It uses “satellite imagery and other forms of remote sensing, artificial intelligence, and collective data science expertise to track human-caused GHG emissions”.

Climate Trace is a collaboration of more than 100 organisations, using 300 satellites, 11,000 sensors, and close to 80,000 facilities globally.

This allows Climate Trace to analyse over 59 trillion bytes of data.

In a statement to The Journal, Andrea Carroll, daa’s Head of Environment Sustainability, said: “daa, together with our aviation partners that operate from Dublin Airport, is absolutely committed to playing our part to help Ireland meet its carbon emissions reduction targets.

“As a commercial semi-state company, daa has a firm target to reduce our Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 51% by 2030, in-line with Government-set Public Sector targets. Additionally we are working towards a commitment to achieve Net Zero emissions from our operations by 2050, or sooner.

As a vital economic enabler, daa has a clear sustainability strategy already in place to deliver key initiatives at Dublin Airport in terms of embracing new technologies, ensuring efficient aircraft operations and implementing smart environmental measures to play our part to reduce carbon emissions.”

‘Game changer’
Speaking yesterday at the launch, Gore said it will “be a true game changer for our planet”.

Meanwhile, UN general secretary António Guterres described it as a “critical initiative” that “plugs the data gaps” and provides “timely and granular data”.

Its data for Ireland reveals Dublin Airport to be the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, emitting over one million tonnes of Co2 last year.

Cement plants also account for four of the top six biggest GHG emitters and emitted a combined 2.91 million tonnes of Co2 last year.

A cement plant in Drogheda, Co Louth ranked second, emitting 984 kilotons of Co2.

This was followed by a Co Cavan plant in Ballyconnell, that emitted 955 kilotons of Co2 last year.

A Limerick cement plant was ranked at the fifth biggest contributor to Co2 emissions, emitting 502 kilotons of Co2 in 2021, with a Kinnegad plant coming sixth, having emitted 472 kilotons last year.

Meanwhile, the traffic in Dublin was listed at the fourth biggest emitter of Co2 last year, at 765 kilotons.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
Our aim at The Journal is to produce reliable, meaningful, independent news and make it available to everyone. Our commitment to covering the climate crisis and what it means for all of us is an important part of that mission. We have built a dedicated climate action team who will be covering COP27 in Egypt this month. Their original and thoughtful reporting from Sharm El Sheikh will be free to everyone. This is intentional: we believe as many people as possible should be able to access accurate, insightful information on climate and environmental concerns.

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    Mute John Meade
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    Jul 16th 2013, 10:41 AM

    This coming from a man who clicks his fingers at Gardai

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    Mute Paul Keenan
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    Jul 16th 2013, 12:29 PM

    And pushes a camera man away.

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    Mute Philip O'Rourke
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    Jul 16th 2013, 1:08 PM

    And from the government of personal attacks.

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    Mute Chuck Farrelly
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    Jul 16th 2013, 10:40 AM

    Remember when Brendan Howlin himself was described as “a safe pair of balls” by Susan McKay? Remember the outrage then? Me neither.

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    Mute Mark Garrigan
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    Jul 16th 2013, 10:50 AM

    Can we not get rid of the Dail first?

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    Mute Nigel O Keeffe
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    Jul 16th 2013, 10:55 AM

    government must be delighted at all this ,keeping the anglo tapes off range,not to mention all the real problems ..mortage arrears..unemployment..all the things they should be working on!
    is the country really outraged at a common enough word?..dont think so!

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    Mute Morticia
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    Jul 16th 2013, 10:38 AM

    Who put Happy up it ?

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    Mute John Kelly
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    Jul 16th 2013, 12:22 PM

    Minister Howlin has some cheek, answer him and his party friends to start looking after the people of Ireland and run the country properly but then again minister Howlin would not run to the shops never mind the country.

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    Mute Billy Brennan's Barn
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    Jul 16th 2013, 3:06 PM

    Come on out of the closet Brendan at this stage & stand up on your own morals

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    Mute Philip O'Rourke
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    Jul 16th 2013, 1:21 PM

    With the Seanad out of the way,
    A large bronze statue of Enda Kenny will be erected on O’Connell Street.
    Michael Martin will be sent to Mayo for re-education before his forced induction into the New FG, comprised totally of failed school teachers.
    Labour will be disbanded due to lack of school teachers.

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    Mute richardmccarthy
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    Jul 16th 2013, 12:05 PM

    Im just glad i didnt vote him for President.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jul 16th 2013, 5:50 PM

    Howlin, who can take money from peoples wages before a democratic vote can take place on Haddington rd, is acting like an autocrat, the man is a joke !!!!!

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    Mute Paul Roche
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    Jul 16th 2013, 6:55 PM

    So was the “Regina Monologues”
    Quite funny!

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    Mute TheIrishBrain
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    Jul 16th 2013, 3:45 PM

    Non person with gray opinions and views, incapable of answering a question without resorting to obfuscation.Career polation.

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