In terms of energy consumption, the transport sector is the most rapidly growing, and poses the biggest challenge to Europe in meeting the commitments it has made under the Kyoto Protocol to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
Apart from a decline in the early 1980s, due to the 1979 oil price shock, growth in fuel consumption by the transport sector has been strong and steady. Total consumption in the sector grew by 112% between 1990 and 2001, representing an average growth rate of 7.1%. Actual growth in 2001 was 10.5%.
Today 39% of Ireland’s final energy consumption is in transportation, with 26% of total national CO₂ emissions originating from this sector.
The number of cars on the road has been rising since the early 1980s. Between 1990 and 2001 total vehicles on Irish roads rose by 60% to 1.68 million and in the same period the number of private cars rose by 66% to just over 1.3 million. There is also a significant decline in the proportion of cars in the engine size up to 1.3 litre, matched by massive growth in the proportion over 1.3 litre, with obvious fuel consumption implications.
Other factors affecting the huge growth in transport energy usage are: the increase in average unit annual mileage and congestion, leading to inefficient driving patterns.
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