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11
Executive Summary
Nuisance, whether this is noise, odour or litter/fly-
tipping of waste, is a threat to human health and
wellbeing, as well as to the wider environment.
Local
authorities receive over 60,000 environmental complaints
each year from the public. The majority of these relate
to nuisance, litter and waste-related issues. The EPA
also receives a significant number of complaints about
odours emanating from industrial activities, in particular
waste management, food and drink facilities. The primary
responsibility rests with industrial operators to effectively
control their activities but environmental policymakers
and regulators have a key role to play in resolving these
nuisance issues for citizens.
Climate Change
Acceleration of the National Response to
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Climate
Mitigation and Adaptation
Climate change is now with us, and the sooner we
act, the less damage will be done to our society,
economy and environment.
The national policy position
for Climate Change establishes a vision for Ireland of
low-carbon transition based on an aggregate reduction in
carbon dioxide (CO
2
) emissions of at least 80% (compared
with 1990 levels) by 2050 across the electricity generation,
built environment and transport sectors; and, in parallel, an
approach to carbon neutrality in the agriculture and land
use sectors, including forestry, that does not compromise
capacity for sustainable food production. The adoption
of the Paris Agreement on climate change in December
2015 provides an ambitious, legally binding framework for
global action on climate change with the aim of holding
the increase in the global temperatures to well below
2°C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to
limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C. To achieve this
vision we need to adopt a much greater sense of urgency
about reducing our dependence on fossil fuels for energy,
heating and transport, radically improving energy efficiency
and preparing for the inevitable consequences of climate
change such as flooding. Greenhouse gas (GHG) data
for the Emissions Trading Sector show that the sector has
increased its emissions whereas the trends across Europe
are for decreasing emissions. For wider sectors of the
economy and society not covered by ETS, which includes
transport and agriculture, for the period 2014‑2020 GHG
emissions are projected to increase. Overall, total emissions
are projected to be between 6% and 11% below 2005
levels in 2020. The target is a 20% reduction. This
increasing trend does not look encouraging for meeting
our national goal to transition to a carbon neutral society
and economy. Meeting the 2030 and 2050 greenhouse
gas emission reduction challenges which are intended to
deliver resilience in our economy and environment will
need a significant improved effort and commitment across
the relevant sectors.
Ireland’s energy systems will need to undergo a
major transformation in the coming decades as
part of actions to address and limit climate change.
Fossil fuels, which make up about 90% of Ireland’s current
energy profile, need to be phased out and replaced by
renewable energy resources such as wind, solar and tidal.
There are very clear wins for the public in energy savings
by retrofitting older and less energy-efficient housing stock
to reach higher energy ratings. This is a national climate
change-related project that could be prioritised through
more targeted action programmes.
In relation to transport, there needs to be support
for a shift from the private car to an efficient
sustainable transport system through a more
proactive and systematic approach to land use and
transport planning.
Wider policy measures are needed
to promote significant increases in alternative fuels and
electric vehicle usage. For larger urban areas, we need
to work on many different levels to have a much more
integrated network, with right of way given to transport
modes that reduce air pollution and GHG emissions.
Implementation of
Legislation
Improve the Tracking of Plans and Policy
and the Implementation and Enforcement of
Environmental Legislation
Despite progress in several areas, including waste
recycling and emissions from industrial facilities,
Ireland still faces challenges or EU infringements in
implementing a number of directives.
The areas where
compliance needs to improve include Drinking Water,
Urban Waste Water Treatment, River Basin District Plans
and Special Areas of Conservation. And as outlined in
the chapter on climate, urgent work is needed to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions.
Environmental enforcement bodies should continue
to target the key environmental risks and non-
compliances in order to drive environmental
improvements.
Appropriate odour control and the
requirement to have robust and secure financial provisions
in place to manage environmental liabilities are two
key issues for waste and industrial sites. Continued
enforcement, as well as initiatives to promote positive
attitudes and behaviours, is required. Citizen involvement in
reporting environmental pollution or related environmental
issues provides on-the-ground information for public bodies
to act on. Various phone lines, apps or web-based systems
are now operated by public bodies to make reporting
pollution easier and instant.