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Chapter 10
Environmental Challenges
and Priorities
Ireland’s environment is a key strategic resource for the country
and it must be managed and protected to ensure that it continues
to be the foundation for our wellbeing and a sustainable economy.
Ireland’s Environment 2012: An Assessment
provides a comprehensive,
evidence-based assessment of the condition of the environment in
Ireland and the pressures being placed on it. The overall finding of
this assessment is that Ireland’s environment is in a relatively good
condition, although there are some areas of concern and there are
a number of significant environmental challenges facing the country
over the coming years. The four key challenges identified are:
Valuing and protecting our natural environment; Building a
resource-efficient, low-carbon economy; Implementing environmental
legislation; and Putting the environment at the centre of decision
making.
Within the concept of sustainable development, economic growth,
social cohesion and environmental protection go hand in hand.
Ultimately, what is required is that as Ireland’s economy and key
sectors develop and recover, that they will do so in a sustainable way
and that economic development is decoupled from environmental
pressures. This is vital to ensure that the natural resources and
environmental conditions fundamental to the economic and social
wellbeing of Ireland’s future generations are preserved and not
degraded or exhausted.
Meeting these environmental challenges will not be easy, nor is it
only the responsibility of a few. Protecting and managing Ireland’s
environment involves Government and public bodies; businesses and
industry; as well as members of the public, working in partnership
and taking action to avoid pollution and controlling environmental
impacts. The reward for this effort is clear; a productive landscape,
an attractive location for tourism and investment and most
importantly, a clean healthy environment in which to live and
prosper.