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Environment and the Economy
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supporting services (e.g. nutrient
cycling and crop pollination)
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cultural services (e.g. recreational
benefits).
There is a clear link between the
protection of habitats, species
and ecosystems and the direct
benefit to society and economy. For
instance, food production depends
on pollination and nutrient cycling,
whereas the tourism sector markets
itself as a clean green destination.
As noted in Chapter 1, visitors’
surveys by Fáilte Ireland show that
the majority of overseas visitors are
attracted by the natural, unspoiled
environment that Ireland offers.
In addition, Ireland is party to the
Convention on Biological Diversity
and has implemented several EU
directives, such as the Birds Directive
and the Habitats Directive, which
aim to protect biodiversity. In
2011 a national biodiversity plan
was published (DAHG, 2011).
A key objective of the plan is to
mainstream biodiversity in the
decision-making process across
all sectors. Getting all sectors to
recognise their responsibility with
regard to their impact on biodiversity
and the environment is a necessary
element in protecting biodiversity
and the value it contributes to society
and the economy.
Clean and Efficient
Energy
Ireland is committed to a range of
renewable energy and efficiency
targets, many of which are being
implemented as climate policy
measures to reduce carbon
emissions. At a European level, the
‘20/20/20’ commitments agreed
under the EU Climate Change and
Energy Package set three new targets
for 2020:
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a minimum 20% reduction in
GHG emissions based on 1990
levels
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20% of final energy consumption
to be produced by renewable
energy resources
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20% reduction in primary
energy use compared with
projected levels to be achieved
by improving energy efficiency.
Under the European Renewables
Directive, the national 2020 target
for Ireland is to source 16% of all
energy consumed from renewable
sources. In addition, Ireland must
achieve a 10% share of renewable
energy in transport consumption
by 2020 (known as RES-T). Ireland’s
National Renewable Energy Action
Plan (NREAP) details a pathway
for Ireland to meet these binding
commitments by setting national
targets whereby renewable energy
should comprise 12% of heat
demand (known as RES-H) and
40% of electricity demand (known
as RES-E). Large-scale development
of renewable energy sources is
envisaged over the next decade,
particularly in the heat and transport
sectors. The position in relation to
these three targets in 2010 is as
follows: RES-H was 4.4%, RES-T
was 2.4% and RES-E was 14.8%.
Ireland’s progress in relation to
the overall Renewable Energy
Directive target was 5.5% in 2010
relative to a target of 16% to be
met in 2020 (SEAI, 2011a). From
an environmental perspective the
expansion of renewable energy is
welcome, particularly from a climate
viewpoint.
Energy efficiency enables
achievement of the same or
improved performance with less
energy which is positive from
an energy and subsequently an
emissions perspective. Energy
efficiency lies at the heart of
European energy policy and is
fundamental to improving energy
supply, reducing carbon emissions,
fostering competitiveness and
stimulating green technological
development. The Energy Services
Directive is the overarching
framework within which energy
efficiency policy is formulated.
Ireland’s National Energy Efficiency
Action Plan (DCENR, 2009) sets out
Ireland’s strategy to meet energy
efficiency obligations at national
and EU levels. Ireland has a national
target to deliver 20% improvement
in energy efficiency savings in 2020.
Government must take a lead role
in this process and, accordingly, a
higher target of 33% has been set
for the public sector. While Ireland