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Ireland’s Environment 2012
146
health benefits associated with
contact with a clean environment
while equally, the potential negative
impacts on health from a polluted
environment are well recognised.
Ireland’s natural environment has
a great intrinsic worth and like any
resource, it requires careful and well-
informed management to maximise
benefits. Meeting the requirements
of the Water Framework Directive
is an important challenge that
will deliver benefits in terms of
enhancing our rivers, lakes, wetlands
and coasts and protect this strategic
resource for future generations.
Like other countries, Ireland must
also work to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions and adapt to the effects
of a changing climate. Maintaining
our clean air and healthy soil will also
require continuing attention as will
protecting biodiversity and nature
from further loss and damage.
Addressing these issues will take
time and money, so it is critical
to fully value and recognise our
environment as a key national asset
and accordingly, to invest wisely in
protecting this wealth for future
generations.
Challenge 2: Building a
Resource-Efficient, Low-Carbon
Economy
The second challenge relates to
building a resource-efficient, low-
carbon economy for Ireland. The
severe economic downturn halted
a type of growth in Ireland that
was unsustainable and ultimately
doomed to fail. There is now an
opportunity to ensure that future
development is based on highly
efficient processes and improved
resource efficiency. More than just
a desirable idea, this shift is being
pushed by increasing scarcity and
costs of fuels and resources. We
need to learn from the mistakes of
the Celtic Tiger years. Transforming
our economy onto a resource-
efficient path can bring increased
competitiveness and new sources
of growth through cost savings,
better management of resources and
commercialisation of innovations. As
businesses and households adjust
to the new economic climate, it
is also an opportunity to change
patterns of resource use, bringing
the green economy to the fore.
Countries that take a pro-active role
in developing a sustainable green
economy are likely to be successful
in the future global economy. From
waste prevention to efficient and
renewable energy, investment now
in this area will position Ireland as
a competitive economy into the
future and help to provide protection
from future economic shocks as
well as allow us to meet our targets
under international climate change
agreements.
Ireland’s 2020 target for greenhouse
gas emissions presents real
challenges for Ireland. Domestic
mitigation action is imperative so
that Ireland plays its part in reducing
GHG emissions while also availing
of the wider opportunities in terms
of new and sustainable growth in
the emerging global green economy.
The purchase of carbon credits
from outside Ireland is a valid and
potentially useful policy option;
however, the primary focus in
Ireland must be to achieve emissions
reductions domestically. Such action
will shape our transition to a low-
carbon economy in the context of
deeper emission reductions that
will be required out to 2050. It will
also provide a credible long-term
policy signal for investment and
demonstrate a commitment to
Ireland’s clean, green and sustainable
image.
Challenge 3: Implementing
Environmental Legislation
Arising from national and
international policies there is now
a substantial and diverse range of
environmental legislation in force
aimed at improving the quality of the
environment and thereby protecting
public health and the ecosystem.
The European Commission 7th
Environmental Action Programme,
to be published in 2012, will set out
an environmental vision for Europe
placing particular emphasis on better
implementation of environmental
legislation at all levels across the
EU (EC, 2012). Over the coming
years Ireland faces formidable
challenges in meeting international
obligations, for example, in relation
to the Water Framework Directive;
reducing greenhouse gas emissions;
reducing levels of particulate matter
in air; and achieving tougher waste
recovery targets. In addition, Ireland
also faces ongoing EU infringement
proceedings in relation to the
transposition or implementation of
a number of other EU directives,
including the Birds Directive; Habitats
Directive; and the Environmental
Impact Assessment Directive. It is
important that Ireland complies
with the international commitments
and ensures that legislation is
implemented in a timely and
appropriate manner. Ireland is proud
to proclaim a clean environment
and to reap the benefits in terms of
tourism and agri-food marketing.
It is critical that this image is not
then undermined by perceived poor
environmental performance.
At a national level, the EPA and
other regulators have an important
role to play to ensure that a healthy
safe environment is delivered for
Ireland’s population through effective
implementation and enforcement
of environmental legislation at
national and local level. Through
co-operative working, this network
of environmental regulators
(including the EPA) has succeeded
across a range of enforcement areas
though issues remain, such as odour
emissions from waste facilities.
Given current constraints on
government spending, there is a
possibility that resources may be
directed away from environmental
enforcement activities with delayed