CRH emits more than Luxembourg

Ireland's most valuable quoted company, CRH, emits the equivalent of just under one-third of Ireland's total carbon emissions.


The construction firm, valued at Euro 9bn revealed that when emissions of its joint venture partners, transport costs and external electricity supply are added to those of its factories and cement plants, it spews 20.5m tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Even without the external factors, the firm still emitted 13.2m tonnes of CO2, more than the whole of Luxembourg, which emitted 11.27m, reports the Independent.

CRH last year doubled its use of coal, so it now accounts for 33% of its energy usage, compared to 17% a year earlier.

Its use of renewable energy held steady at 4%.

But the buildings materials firm has tried to cut back on its emissions from water use.

For example, it has registered a Euro 210m CO2 emissions reduction scheme in the Ukraine with the United Nations Joint Implementation Supervisory Committee.

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