Ireland's emissions fell by only 2 per cent last year, according to the latest assessment by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The decrease is less than half the reduction required, with the agency warning meeting the targets will now be ''extremely challenging''.
Ireland has signed up to national and international obligations to fight climate change, with key targets of cutting emissions in half by 2030.
Dr Cara Augustenborg, Professor of Environmental Policy at UCD, says transport almost derailed the efforts in other sectors that saw a decrease:
"We have to get out of this mindset that it's all about electric vehicles, electric vehicles are not going to be the solution to our transport issues".
The EPA says the drop was driven by higher fuel prices, increased renewable energy, behavioural change and regulation.
It also found agriculture emissions decreased by 1.2 per cent, and residential emissions decreased by 12.7.
Transport emissions increased by 6 per cent in 2022 though, as the Covid rebound continues.
