Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 November 2025
208. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Defence the progress in emission reduction targets in areas that are the responsibility of her Department; which measures are particularly successful and which measures are underperforming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67045/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Defence continues to take a proactive approach throughout all its buildings in progressing energy efficient initiatives and achieving its emission reductions targets.
The Department has achieved its 2030 energy efficiency targets ahead of schedule. Attention will now switch to carbon emissions and measuring the Department’s annual performance against our current gap to target.
Carbon emissions for Department buildings have recorded figures of 450,586 kgCO2 in 2024. While we have yet to reach our 2030 target of 213,854 kgCO2, the below table shows progress in C02 emissions since 2010. We continue to progress improvements to achieve our goals.
In 2024, the Department’s HQ succeeded in the elimination of gas network supply with the upgrade to a more efficient Biomass heating system. Further CO2 improvements will be realised from 2025 onwards.
In collaboration with the OPW, several buildings are earmarked for CO2 emissions improvements over the coming years. We will expect to see further reductions with the completion of a full energy retrofit of our Galway office (Renmore) in 2026, and an LED Lighting upgrade of our HQ in 2027.
It is expected that these projects will help us achieve our 2030 target of 213,854 kgCO2.
|
Parameter |
Thermal CO2 emissions |
Electricity CO2 emissions |
Total CO2 emissions |
|
Unit |
kgCO2 |
kgCO2 |
kgCO2 |
|
2010 |
719,422 |
868,425 |
1,587,847 |
|
2011 |
245,533 |
881,092 |
1,126,625 |
|
2012 |
140,720 |
935,208 |
1,075,928 |
|
2013 |
185,474 |
787,640 |
973,113 |
|
2014 |
181,928 |
706,483 |
888,411 |
|
2015 |
188,163 |
685,614 |
873,777 |
|
2016 |
198,402 |
651,710 |
850,112 |
|
2017 |
155,313 |
611,582 |
766,895 |
|
2018 |
174,096 |
522,265 |
696,360 |
|
2019 |
159,040 |
480,143 |
639,183 |
|
2020 |
122,394 |
351,929 |
474,323 |
|
2021 |
121,496 |
376,448 |
497,944 |
|
2022 |
119,756 |
352,409 |
472,165 |
|
2023 |
111,674 |
325,260 |
436,933 |
|
2024 |
106,204 |
321,407 |
427,611 |
