New EPA projections show Ireland veering off climate course – SFMI calls for national lab and crack-down on illegal fuel
Following the release of the Environmental Protection Agency’s latest greenhouse gas projections, Solid Fuel Merchants Ireland (SFMI) has called for immediate Government action to tackle the widespread sale of smoky, untaxed and unregulated fuel. The organisation is demanding the establishment of a national EPA-accredited laboratory and stronger enforcement of solid fuel regulations, warning that Ireland is currently issuing “de facto licences to pollute.”
The EPA’s projections, released this week, show Ireland is set to achieve only a 23 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030 – less than half the legally binding 51 per cent target. Emissions from sectors including residential heating are falling far short, while land use emissions are set to rise by up to 95 per cent.
“The climate warning lights are flashing red” said Colin Ahern, Chair of SFMI. “The vast majority of coal samples tested in Ireland are failing basic sulphur standards. Yet the market remains flooded with non-compliant fuel from outside jurisdictions. We urgently need a national testing lab and a merchant register to ensure cleaner air and protect honest traders.”
Since the Solid Fuels Regulations took effect in October 2022, local authorities have been forced to send fuel samples overseas for testing, at a cost of around £520 per sample and recent figures show failure rates consistently above 85 per cent:
- 88% of samples failed a national sulphur assessment in 2024
- A 2025 Dublin-region sampling found the majority of coal samples were illegal
- In Limerick, 87% of samples failed in a March 2024 campaign
Despite this, no EPA-accredited lab currently exists in Ireland to conduct the required testing and enforcement remains fragmented and underfunded.
SFMI’s Three-Point Call to Government:
- Establish an Irish-based, EPA-accredited laboratory for solid fuel testing
- Centralise testing and funding under the Department of the Environment
- Create an EPA-run merchant register to keep illegal suppliers out of the market
“Ireland’s climate goals are being undermined by regulatory blind spots and enforcement gaps. Let’s end the postcode lottery on fuel enforcement and let’s stop outsourcing our environmental responsibility.” Mr. Ahern concluded.
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