Uncovering the Extent of Carbon-Emitting Peat Extraction in Irish Bogs: A Groundbreaking Satellite Study
A recent study funded by the Environmental Protection Agency has shed light on the significantly underreported level of carbon-emitting peat extraction occurring on Irish bogs for domestic use. Contrary to the 400 hectares reported in Ireland’s official greenhouse gas report to the United Nations, this new research, utilizing space imagery, Google Earth Engine, and an AI algorithm, reveals that just under 65,000 hectares of raised bog across Ireland have been utilized for domestic purposes. This staggering figure is nearly 162 times higher than previously documented, prompting concerns over the accuracy of existing reports.
Carbon-Emitting Peat
The research, touted as the “first high-resolution wall-to-wall” study of its kind in Ireland, focuses on raised bogs, which constitute 36% of the country’s peatland, with blanket bogs making up the remainder. Given the critical role these ecosystems play in climate mitigation, the study emphasizes the necessity of quantifying emissions resulting from land use degradation.
Peat, considered the least carbon-efficient fossil fuel, releases more CO2 emissions per energy unit than oil, natural gas, or coal. Previous challenges in obtaining a clear picture of bog use due to cloudy weather conditions have been overcome through the use of tools like Google Earth Engine, enabling a comprehensive analysis of Ireland’s bog landscape.
The study categorizes land use on raised bogs, revealing that agricultural grassland occupies 43%, forestry 21%, domestic cutover 11%, industrial cutaway 10%, remnant peatlands 13%, and waterbodies and built-up areas 1% each. Notably, previous reports on bog use, such as Ireland’s National Inventory Report 2023, are found to be inaccurate, with the figure for domestic harvesting listed at 400 hectares, a fraction of the actual extent.
The study challenges the official figures, stating that the managed wetland area extends to approximately 119,000 hectares, 70% higher than reported in Ireland’s National Inventory Report. The findings expose widespread degradation of these rare habitats, turning them from carbon sinks to net emitters of CO2.
Wahaj Habib, a PhD student at Trinity College Dublin involved in the study, highlights that peat extraction emits greenhouse gas emissions through draining and exposure to air, with subsequent burning exacerbating the issue. The study indicates that emissions are at least twice as high as previously reported, urging the adoption of refined numbers for accurate reporting and sustainable management of these vital ecosystems in the future.
