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Ireland’s Environment – An Assessment 2016
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European Perspective
European State of the Environment
Report 2015
The European Environment Agency (EEA) report
indicates a mixed picture in relation to achieving
the EU’s 2050 vision of “living well within the limits
of the planet”.
The EEA released its latest State of the Environment
report for Europe in 2015 (EEA, 2015a). The EEA paints
a varied picture in relation to achieving the EU’s 2050
vision of “living well within the limits of the planet”.
Some areas, notably resource efficiency and the low-
carbon economy, have progressed or have a mixed
picture in the medium term. However, the picture for
protecting, conserving and enhancing natural capital in
many areas is deteriorating. A similar outlook is given for
safeguarding Europe from environmental risks to health.
Deteriorating trends in relation to biodiversity and
climate impacts can be singled out as special causes for
concern. These are global issues and not just confined to
Europe. A summary of the trends identified by the EEA
are presented in Table 13.1.
Table 13.1
An Indicative Summary of Environmental Trends (Source: EEA, 2015a)
5–10 year
trends
20+ years
outlook
Progress to
policy targets
Protecting, conserving and enhancing natural capital
Terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity
Land use and soil functions
No target
Ecological status of freshwater bodies
Water quality and nutrient loading
Air pollution and its ecosystem impacts
Marine and coastal biodiversity
Climate change impacts on ecosystems
No target
Resource efficiency and the low-carbon economy
Material resource efficiency and material use
No target
Waste management
Greenhouse gas emissions and climate change mitigation
/
Energy consumption and fossil fuel use
Transport demand and related environmental impacts
Industrial pollution to air, soil and water
Water use and water quantity stress
Safeguarding from environmental risks to health
Water pollution and related environmental health risks
/
Air pollution and related environmental health risks
Noise pollution (especially in urban areas)
N.A.
Urban systems and grey infrastructure
No target
Climate change and related environmental health risks
No target
Chemicals and related environmental health risks
/
Indicative assessment of trends and outlook
Indicative assessment of progress to policy targets
Deteriorating trends dominate
Largely not on track to achieving key policy targets
Trends show mixed picture
Partially on track to achieving key policy targets
Improving trends dominate
Largely on track to achieving key policy targets
Note: The indicative assessments presented here are based on key indicators (as available and used in SOER thematic briefings), as well as expert judgement.
The corresponding ‘Trends and outlook’ boxes in the respective sections provide additional explanations.