Environmental accounts for the Republic of Ireland: 1990-2005

Abstract

This paper presents new environmental accounts for the Republic of Ireland from 1990-2005. Designed to be consistent with the national accounts, these satellite accounts cover 34 emissions and 14 resources for 19 production sectors plus households. Emissions include greenhouse gases, eutrophying and acidifying emissions, and three types of waste each divided into four dispositions. We find that some emissions such as halocarbons and carbon dioxide have grown rapidly over the period, although the main greenhouse gas emissions have grown less quickly than economic activity. Energy use as a whole has also increased. However, other emissions have declined, such as nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide.