Irish company emits more CO2 than Luxembourg

A single company in Ireland is responsible for more CO2 emissions than the whole nation of Luxembourg.

Construction firm CRH is the most valuable company listed in Ireland, worth an estimated €9 billion.

With external factors such as partner businesses, transport, and electricity supply included, CRH emits almost one third of Ireland’s total carbon footprint, with total CO2 emissions of 20.5 million tonnes.

This is almost double Luxembourg’s CO2 emissions of 11.27 million tonnues.

Even with external factors excluded, CRH still pollutes more than Luxembourgh, with CO2 emissions of 13.2 million tonnes.

The company doubled its use of heavy polluter coal last year, citing the need for ‘energy security’ as the key reason for this. Oil use also increased from 11% of the company’s energy production to 13%.

Renewable energy used by the company remained stable, accounting for 4% of CRH’s total energy use.