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Introduction & Socio-economic Context
11
smaller engine sizes. This shift was
also incentivised by a car scrappage
scheme in 2010. Figure 1.4 shows
the shares of new car sales between
2000 and September 2010 classified
by emissions label band.
A transport policy document,
Smarter Travel – A Sustainable
Transport Future 2009–2020
(DoT,
2009) was published in 2009. This
policy was designed to show how
unsustainable transport and travel
patterns can be reversed. It sets out
the necessary steps to ensure that
people choose more sustainable
transport modes such as walking,
cycling and public transport.
The Economy
Since the last state of the
environment report was published in
2008 the economy has experienced
a turbulent time. In 2009 the
majority of world economies were
in recession, thereby adversely
affecting Ireland’s open economy.
The global recession together
with the deflationary impact of
the banking crisis caused the Irish
economy to shrink by over 7% in
that year. The consequent reduction
in manufacturing, production and
consumption lowered pressure on
the environment in some areas e.g.
waste generation and greenhouse
gas emissions.
Table 1.3 shows the decline in
Ireland’s Gross Domestic Product
between 2007 and 2010 and
compares it to that of our main
trading partners.
The impact of the recession on
individual domestic sectors, and
consequently on the environment,
was not uniform. Important sectors
are considered further in Table 1.4
(CSO, 2011c) using Gross Value
Added (GVA). GVA is equal to
the sum of the values of goods
and services produced, including
depreciation and subsidies on
production but excluding taxes on
production.
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing
The agriculture, forestry and fishing
sector accounted for approximately
2% of total GVA and 4.6% of total
employment in 2011. The agriculture
sector is in a period of transition,
responding to increased demand
and anticipating changes to the EU’s
Common Agriculture Policy (CAP)
and to changes in milk quotas.
The longer-term outlook for the
development of the agriculture
sector, as outlined in the sectoral
strategy document
Food Harvest
2020
(DAFF, 2010), is positive. The
document states that Ireland must
build on the strengths of its ‘green’
image and maintain its commitment
Figure 1.4
Shares of New Private Cars in each Emission Band 2000–2009 (+2010 to September) (Source: SEAI)
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2010
to Sept
2009
Jul-Dec
2008
Jan-Jun
2008
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
Shares of new private cars
in each emissions label band
A (<=120g/km)
G (>225g/km)
B (121-140g/km)
C (141-155g/km)
D (156-170g/km)
E (171-190g/km)
F (191-225g/km)