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Ireland’s Environment 2012
40
Bituminous Coal Ban and
Domestic Emissions
The ban on bituminous coal in large
cities and towns greatly reduced
levels of particulate matter pollution
in these areas (EPA, 2011). A study
on the effect of the bituminous
coal ban found that that there
were approximately 359 fewer
cardiovascular and respiratory deaths
per year in Dublin following the
introduction of the ban (Clancy
et al., 2002). In 2011 the ban was
extended to four additional towns
and a nationwide 0.7% limit on
sulphur in bituminous coal was
introduced (DECLG, 2011). New
regulations further extending the ban
are expected. These measures should
decrease levels of particulate matter
across the country. In addition the
EPA is funding a research programme
that is investigating potential links
between the burning of bituminous
coal, resulting high levels of PM
10
and PM
2.5
and levels of PAHs.
Outlook
Overall, air quality in Ireland
continues to be good and is among
the best in Europe. This is due largely
to the prevailing clean westerly
air-flow from the Atlantic and the
relative absence of large cities and
heavy industry. However, Ireland
faces a number of challenges in the
near future when trying to meet
obligations under EU legislation.
Levels of NO
X
in traffic-impacted
city centre areas will continue to be
a problem due to the difficulty in
achieving large-scale reductions in
road traffic numbers. This should
be addressed through policies to
reduce car use; increase use of
public transport; and reduce
emissions from vehicles.
Under the CAFE Directive, Ireland is
required to reduce levels of PM
2.5
by
10% between 2012 and 2020. This
reduction will be challenging as it
will require an integrated approach
across a number of sectors including
industrial, transport and residential
emissions.
Emissions from domestic solid
fuel use contribute to high levels
of particulate matter and PAHs
in villages, towns and cities. New
regulations in 2011 reducing
the sulphur content in coal and
extending the ban on bituminous
coal should bring improvements in
air quality. Switching from solid fuel
to gas or other low-emission fuels
and the use of efficient stoves to
burn solid fuel will further reduce
domestic emissions of air pollution.
Increasing population and the
demand for electricity, space heating
fuels, construction materials and
vehicle ownership are some of the
principal drivers for air emissions
in Ireland. Ireland also has a large
agricultural and food export industry,
a key driver for ammonia emissions.
Expected growth in the agricultural
sector as outlined in the
Food
Harvest 2020
strategy (DAFF, 2010),
along with the planned removal of
milk production quotas within the
European Union (CEU, 2009) will
increase pressure on future emissions
to air from this sector.
The EPA IPPC licensing regime and
EU legislation will continue to control
emissions to air from industry and
power generation to ensure that
these sectors will not impact on
air emissions and air quality. The
strategies to achieve compliance
with the EU NEC Directive have
successfully controlled emissions of
sulphur dioxide, ammonia and VOCs.
Emissions of all three are expected to
remain below the prescribed ceilings.
In contrast, levels of NO
X
are expected
to remain above Ireland’s national
emission ceiling in the short term.
Conclusion and
Future Challenges
Ireland as a country must continue
to be vigilant in order to maintain
good air quality. Ireland must meet
its international commitments on air
quality and air emissions and ensure
that industrial emissions of pollutants
to air continue to be rigorously
controlled. Ireland should also strive
to ensure that its industrial sector
continues to make use of clean
technologies where possible.
The actions set out in
Smarter Travel
- A Sustainable Transport Future
need to be implemented to arrest
the increasing trend in NO
X
levels
in Ireland. These include policies
to reduce travel demand, increase
use of alternatives to the private
car and improve the efficiency of
motorised transport. This process will
require joined-up action between
Government departments, national
agencies and local authorities.
These bodies must make air
quality an integral part of their
traffic management and planning
processes.
The shift from solid fuel to cleaner
alternatives including gas must
continue. This may need an
extension of the natural gas network
to include smaller towns and
villages. Finally, the links between
health and air quality must be better
communicated by all public bodies
involved in air quality assessment
and management, to raise awareness
of the critical issues with policy and
decision makers and with the public.