Key points

Northern Ireland local authority allocated greenhouse gas emissions fell by 27.3% between 2005 and 2024.
Northern Ireland local authority allocated greenhouse gas emissions increased by 0.5% between 2023 and 2024.
Mid Ulster had the highest total greenhouse gas emissions in 2024, at 2,266 ktCO₂e, or around 2.3 MtCO₂e.
Agriculture was the largest source of Northern Ireland local authority allocated emissions in 2024, accounting for 5.7 MtCO₂e, or 32% of total emissions.

Overview

This report presents estimates of territorial greenhouse gas emissions for Northern Ireland local authorities from 2005 to 2024 based on UK local and regional greenhouse gas emissions statistics, 2005-2024. Alongside total allocated greenhouse gas emissions, we present a subset of carbon dioxide emissions that are within the potential scope of influence of local authorities. This subset follows the DESNZ approach and should not be interpreted as emissions directly controlled by councils. Rather, it provides a consistent estimate of CO₂ emissions over which councils may have some degree of influence through planning, local services, partnerships, local strategies and public engagement. The “within potential council influence” measure is available for CO₂ emissions only. It is therefore not directly comparable with total greenhouse gas emissions, which are reported in CO₂ equivalent and include methane and nitrous oxide.

Between 2005 and 2024, emissions decreased by 27.3% in Northern Ireland. Between 2023 and 2024, emissions increased by 0.5% in Northern Ireland. Transport and agriculture were the largest contributors to local authority emissions in 2024. Emissions have fallen across all local authorities since 2005, though the scale and pace of change varies by area.

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) versus carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e)

Greenhouse gas emissions are presented as carbon dioxide equivalent, or CO₂e. CO₂e combines carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide into a single measure using their global warming potential. This is particularly important for Northern Ireland, where agriculture is a major source of methane and nitrous oxide emissions. As a result, CO₂e provides a more complete picture of climate impacts than CO₂ alone.

Emissions Within Council Influence

While greenhouse gas emissions provide a picture of emissions occurring within an area, councils have varying levels of ability to influence different emission sources. The “within potential council influence” measure focuses on a subset of CO₂ emissions where local authorities may be able to contribute to emissions reductions through planning, local services, transport initiatives, partnership working and public engagement activities. This measure should not be interpreted as emissions controlled directly by councils and is not directly comparable with total greenhouse gas emissions, which also include methane and nitrous oxide. UK local and regional greenhouse gas emissions statistics, 2005-2024

Northern Ireland greenhouse gas emissions over time

Greenhouse gas emissions allocated to Northern Ireland local authority areas have fallen since 2005. Emissions decreased by 27.3% between 2005 and 2024, reflecting long-term reductions in energy-related emissions and improvements in the carbon intensity of electricity generation. Despite this overall decline, emissions increased slightly between 2023 and 2024, reflecting changes across individual sectors and local authority areas. Emissions estimates derived from local authority statistics are produced on a different basis to the Northern Ireland greenhouse gas inventory and should not be directly compared with national greenhouse gas totals.

Figure 1: NI total allocated greenhouse gas emissions

Table 1: Greenhouse gas emissions by council

Rank	Local Authority	Emissions MtCO₂e
1	Mid Ulster	2.3
2	Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon	2.2
3	Fermanagh and Omagh	2.1
4	Causeway Coast and Glens	1.8
5	Newry, Mourne and Down	1.7
6	Derry City and Strabane	1.6
7	Belfast	1.4
8	Mid and East Antrim	1.3
9	Lisburn and Castlereagh	1.2
10	Antrim and Newtownabbey	1.1
11	Ards and North Down	1.1

Change Since 2005

All Northern Ireland local authorities recorded lower greenhouse gas emissions in 2024 than in 2005 However, the scale of reduction varied across councils, reflecting differences in local economic activity, land use, population density and the relative importance of sectors such as agriculture, transport and industry. Long-term reductions have been supported by improvements in energy efficiency and significant reductions in emissions associated with electricity generation. Councils with a larger proportion of emissions arising from agriculture generally experienced smaller reductions than areas where energy-related emissions form a greater share of total emissions.

Figure 2: Percentage change in greenhouse gas emissions since 2005 by local authority

Local Authority Comparisons

Greenhouse gas emissions varied considerably between local authority areas in 2024. Differences reflect variations in population size, land area, agricultural activity, industrial processes, transport infrastructure and energy consumption patterns. Rural councils generally recorded higher total emissions than more urban areas due to the larger contribution of agriculture and land-based activities. These figures provide an indication of the scale of emissions occurring within each council area but do not necessarily reflect emissions that can be influenced directly by local government.

Figure 3: Total greenhouse gas emissions by council

Share of emissions within council influence (2024)

The proportion of emissions within the potential scope of council influence differed between council areas. A higher proportion suggests that a greater share of local emissions arises from sources that may be influenced through local action, while a lower proportion indicates a larger contribution from sources such as agriculture or major industrial activities that are less directly influenced by local authority interventions. This measure helps to provide context when comparing opportunities for local emissions reduction activity across councils.

Figure 4: NI CO₂ emissions split by within/outside council influence

Figure 5: Council-level bar chart for 2024 CO₂ within potential council influence

The influence measure is CO₂ only and should not be compared directly with total GHG emissions.

Emissions Per Person

Emissions per person provide a way of comparing local authority areas of different population size. However, emissions are influenced by a wide range of factors in addition to resident population, including agricultural activity, transport patterns, industrial installations and land use. As a result, areas with significant agricultural emissions can record relatively high emissions per person despite having smaller populations. Similar patterns are observed across the UK, where rural areas generally have higher per-capita emissions than densely populated urban areas.UK local and regional greenhouse gas emissions statistics, 2005-2024

Figure 7: Tonnes CO₂e per person over time

Figure 8: Tonnes CO₂e per person by local authority 2024

Sectoral Emissions

The composition of greenhouse gas emissions in Northern Ireland differs from many other parts of the UK due to the importance of agriculture. Agriculture and transport were the largest contributors to emissions in 2024, together accounting for a substantial proportion of local authority emissions. The sectoral profile reflects Northern Ireland’s rural land use, agricultural activity and transport patterns. Understanding the relative contributions of different sectors helps identify where future emissions reductions may be achieved.

Figure 9: Greenhouse gas emissions by local authority and sector in 2024

Figure 10: Sectoral breakdown of emissions,2024

Greenhouse gas emissions by sector, Northern Ireland local authorities combined, 2024. Million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, MtCO₂e.

Key Findings Summary

The decline in greenhouse gas emissions since 2005 reflects a combination of factors, including improvements in energy efficiency, reductions in emissions from electricity generation and wider changes in energy consumption patterns. Across the UK, reductions in emissions from electricity supply have been driven by increased renewable generation and the gradual phase-out of coal-fired electricity generation. The influence of these factors varies across local authority areas depending on their sectoral composition and economic structure.

Further information

Contact Details

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Greenhouse gas emissions by local authority, Northern Ireland