Health « Thurles Information

Ireland’s 2023 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Lowest In Three Decades.

Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 6.8% (4.0 Mt CO2eq) in 2023, with reductions in almost all sectors. This is the lowest that greenhouse gas emissions have been in three decades, and below the 1990 baseline.
Emissions data show the largest single year reductions in the energy and agriculture sectors and the lowest level of residential emissions since 1990, while transport emissions were below pre-Covid levels.
Power generation emissions decreased by 21.6 per cent (2.2 Mt CO2eq)
Agriculture emissions decreased by 4.6 per cent (1.0 Mt CO2eq)
Residential emissions decreased by 7.1 per cent (0.4 Mt CO2eq)
Transport emissions increased marginally by 0.3 per cent (0.03 Mt CO2eq)
Emissions per capita decreased from 11.4 tonnes CO2eq/person to 10.4 tonnes CO2eq/person in 2023.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its provisional greenhouse gas emissions for Ireland for 2023. The figures show a reduction of 6.8% compared to 2022, with emission reductions in almost all sectors. In total, 55 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2eq) were emitted, excluding emissions from Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF).

Commenting on the report Ms Laura Burke, Director General, EPA said: “Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2023 were at their lowest level in over three decades, as a result of the largest reduction in emissions outside of recession. These are significant findings that signal the impact of climate action and decarbonisation measures across Ireland’s economy and society. We see the impact of more renewables and interconnection powering electricity, less fossil fuel use in home heating, reduced nitrogen fertiliser use in agriculture and more biofuel in transport.”

Ms Burke added, “The data indicates a move towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions at the scale and pace required to meet our climate ambition of a 51% reduction by 2030. However, while these are positive results for the year 2023, we are still well off track in terms of meeting EU and national 2030 targets. We need to maintain and further build momentum.”

The assessment shows that Ireland complied with its EU Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR) commitments for 2021-2023, with the use of allowed flexibilities. However, these latest data show that 2023 greenhouse gas emissions were still only 10.1% below 2005 levels, well short of Ireland’s EU Effort Sharing reduction commitment of 42% by 2030.

With regard to compliance with national commitments under the Climate Act 2015 (as amended), the assessment shows that greenhouse Gas emissions (incl. LULUCF) are 7.8% lower than in 2018, well off the National Climate Ambition of a 51% reduction by 2030. We need to achieve an extremely challenging annual reduction of 8.3% for each of the years 2024 and 2025, if Ireland is to stay within the first Carbon Budget.

A summary of the trends from key sectors:

Energy Industries: Emissions decreased by 21.6% to 7.8 Mt CO2eq. This was driven by a 12-fold increase in imported electricity (9.5% of electricity supply in 2023), in combination with an increase in the share of renewable energy (to 40.7% in 2023) and a reduction in the use of coal, oil and peat. The emissions intensity of power generation decreased from 332g CO2/kWh in 2022 to a historic low of 255g CO2/kWh in 2023.

Agriculture: Agriculture emissions decreased by 4.6% to 20.8 Mt CO2eq due to an 18% reduction in fertiliser nitrogen use, reduced lime application and overall reduction in numbers of livestock. Dairy cow numbers increased by 0.6%, however total milk production decreased by 4.7% in 2023.

Residential: Emissions decreased by 7% to 5.3 Mt CO2eq. This was the second substantial annual reduction in succession. High fuel prices and a milder winter were significant contributors to the reduction in fossil fuel use, in addition to the introduction of nationwide solid fuel regulations. Over 30,000 heat-pumps were installed in Irish homes in 2023, bringing the total to 120,000.

Transport: Emissions increased marginally by 0.3% to 11.8 Mt CO2eq. Emissions are now 4.3% below 2019 pre-Covid levels. An increase in electric vehicles and biofuel use partly offset a 3% increase in the vehicle fleet.

Commenting, Ms Mary Frances Rochford, Programme Manager, EPA said: “There are many positives to be taken from this assessment. We see emission reduction milestones achieved in many key sectors in 2023. Residential emissions were at their lowest level since 1990, we saw the largest year on year reductions to date in the Energy and Agriculture sectors. All of which have contributed to a decrease in our emissions per capita from 11.4 to 10.4 tonnes CO2eq in 2023.”

In line with new research in the latest update to the inventory, the EPA refined the information underpinning the agricultural figures which has led to an 8.5 Mt CO2eq reduction in emissions from agricultural activities from 2018-2023. It is imperative that this is now incorporated into carbon budgets to ensure that they reflect latest science, data and knowledge on greenhouse gas emissions in Ireland.

The Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory 1990 to 2023 is available on the EPA website and the EPA Greenhouse Gas web resource is also available online.

FSAI Food Allergen Alert.

Undeclared wheat in all batches of True Natural Goodness Giant Cous Cous.

Alert Summary dated Monday, July 8th, 2024.

Allergy Alert Notification: 2024.A24.
Allergen’s: Cereals containing gluten.
Product Identification: True Natural Goodness Giant Cous Cous; pack size 500g.
Batch Code: All batches and all best-before dates.
Country Of Origin: USA.

Message: All batches of True Natural Goodness Giant Cous Cous contain wheat (cereals containing gluten) which is not declared in the list of ingredients. This may make the batches unsafe for consumers who are allergic to or intolerant of cereals containing gluten (wheat).

FSAI- Recall Etoile de Provence Banon AOP – Goats’ Cheese.

Recall of specific batches of Etoile de Provence Banon AOP (raw milk goats’ cheese) due to the presence of Yersinia enterocolitica.

Alert Summary dated Monday, July 8th, 2024.

Category 1: For Action.
Alert Notification: 2024.30.
Product Identification: Etoile de Provence Banon. AOP (raw milk goats’ cheese): pack size: 100g.
Batch Code Best-before dates: 12/07/2024 & 19/07/2024.
Country Of Origin: France.

Message: The above batches of Etoile de Provence Banon AOP (raw milk goats’ cheese) are being recalled due to the presence of Yersinia enterocolitica.

Nature Of Danger: Yersinia enterocolitica are bacteria which may be ingested via contaminated food or water. Symptoms of yersiniosis most often develop 3-7 days after infection. Symptoms include fever, abdominal cramps, watery or bloody diarrhoea, headaches, and vomiting. Yersiniosis is typically self-limiting, and symptoms can persist from 1-3 days up to 3 weeks. Some individuals are more vulnerable to infection, including young children, older adults and immunocompromised individuals.

Action Required: Retailers are requested to remove the implicated batches from sale and display recall notices at point-of-sale.

Consumers are advised not to eat the implicated batches.

Resilience Of Drinking Water Supplies Must Improve.

The quality of drinking water from public supplies remains very high, with over 99.7 per cent of samples compliant with bacterial and chemical limits.
The number of people served by “at risk” public water supplies has increased again in 2023 to 561,000, up from 481,000. This is primarily due to detections of persistent THM’s and cryptosporidium.
The number of long-term boil water notices was 46 in 2023, almost double the number in 2022.
One in twenty supplies failed to meet the THM standard in 2023.
Progress to remove lead from our supply networks to protect public health is far too slow.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ‘Drinking Water Quality in Public Supplies Report 2023’ released today, shows that over 99.7% of public water supplies comply with bacterial and chemical limits, which means our public water is safe to drink.

However, many supplies still lack robust treatment measures to guarantee their long-term resilience and safety. The EPA’s Remedial Action List (RAL) identifies “at-risk” supplies that require improvements to safeguard public health.
In 2023 there has been a further increase in the number of people served by supplies on the RAL (up to 561,000 – from 481,000).
While it is positive to note that ten supplies were removed from the RAL following improvement works, the EPA – through enforcement and assessment activities – have identified a further nine “at-risk” supplies that were added, primarily for THM and Cryptosporidium exceedances.

Good progress has been made in other areas such as disinfection, progression of the Drinking Water Safety Plan approach and making the lead remediation grant easier for the public to access.

Launching the report, Dr Tom Ryan, EPA Director said: “Our public water quality remains very high, which means that the public can remain confident that drinking water supplied to their homes is safe to drink. However, the resilience of drinking water supplies isn’t robust enough as evidenced by more “at-risk” supplies being identified by the EPA, and an almost doubling of long-term boil water notices in 2023. Implementing the findings of Drinking Water Safety Plans will be crucial to improve the resilience of supplies- this will require corresponding sustained investment in water services to continue to provide the people of Ireland with a safe and secure supply into the future.”

One in twenty supplies failed to meet the Trihalomethane (THM) standard in 2023 and supplies on the RAL for THM’s are impacting almost 300,000 people. Greater effort is needed by Uisce Éireann to implement improvements at supplies, to minimise exposure to THM’s, including at major supplies such as Limerick City, and Kilkenny City.

With regard to lead in drinking water, Mr Noel Byrne, EPA Programme Manager, said: “Lead in our drinking water is a cumulative risk to human health and must be removed from our drinking supply network. Despite Ireland having a National Lead Strategy in place since 2015 progress to date has been far too slow. Uisce Éireann must accelerate the rollout of their lead mitigation plan to deal with the public supply network; the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Department of Health must outline their plans for lead replacement in public buildings and householders with lead pipes in their homes should avail of the enhanced lead remediation grant scheme to protect their health.”

In 2023, boil water notices impacted 254,000 people. Half of boil water notices were in place for more than 30 days, nearly double the number from 2022. This recent trend of significantly more long-term boil water notices needs to be reversed by Uisce Éireann and requires proactive measures to address the underlying causes and improve the resilience of these supplies.

The EPA Drinking Water Quality in Public Supplies 2023 Report and the complete list of public water supplies currently on the Remedial Action List – including details of the proposed remedial measures and associated timeframes – are available on the EPA website linked above.

UHL Had Highest Number Of Patients Without A Bed During June 2024.

According to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), over 9,437 patients, including 70 children were admitted to our Irish hospitals, without a bed, during this past month (June 2024).

**Reception Area University Hospital Limerick**.
*Pic: G. Willoughby*

This figure represents a 14% increase when compared to June 2023.

The hospital with the highest number of patients was University Hospital Limerick, latter serving North Tipperary with 1666 patients without a bed, in June.

University Hospital Galway had 1051 patients on trolleys this month, with 824 patients in Cork University Hospital also without a bed during the same period.

The figures remain as clear evidence as if same was required, that our health service remains far too reliant on a hospital system that does not have the sufficient bed capacity for an ever increasing Irish population.