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Ireland’s Environment – An Assessment 2016
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Radioactivity in the Environment 137 Radon 138 Non-ionising Radiation 138 Other Environmental and Health Issues 139 Climate Change, Health and Wellbeing 139 Genetically Modified Organisms 139 Heavy Metals 140 Pharmaceuticals in the Environment 140 Healthy Food 141 Environment and Health Research 142 Key Achievements 142 Priority Areas 142 Conclusion 142 References 143 Section IV Environment and the Economy 145 Chapter 9 Environment and the Economy: Overview 146 Importance of the Environment to the Economy 147 Introduction 147 Global Sustainability Models 148 Economic Cost of Not Protecting our Environment 148 National “Environomic” Performance 148 International and National Policy Context 149 Living Well, Within the Limits of our Planet 149 Resilient People, Resilient Planet: The UN Policy to Promote Sustainability 150 Resilient People, Resilient Planet 150 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 150 Strategies for a Resource-efficient and Low-carbon Europe 151 Harmful Environmental Subsidies 151 Raw Material Use in the Economy 152 Ireland – Our Sustainable Future 153 Key Current and Emerging Policy Trends 153 Circular Economy 153 Emerging Environmental Governance trends 155 Ireland’s National Plan for Corporate Social Responsibility 2014‑2016 155 Assessing the Life Cycle of Goods and Services 156 Sector Plans and Policy Context 156 Economic Sector Plans for Sustainability 156 Strategies to Deliver More Efficient Businesses 157 Green Procurement 158 Economic Value of the Environment 158 Ecosystem Services – The Value of Being Clean and Green 158 Conclusions and Outlook 159 References 159 Chapter 10 Environment and Transport 162 Introduction 163 Current Trends 164 Transport Emissions 164 Air Pollution and Transport 164 Other Environmental Pressures 165 Passenger Road Transport 165 Road Freight 166 Rail and Bus 166 Cycling 166 Aviation 166 Marine and Navigation 167 What’s Being Done 167 Energy Efficiency 167 Alternative Fuels 168 Electric Vehicles: Case Study of the Aran Islands Electric Vehicle project 168 Planning for Sustainable Transport 168 Smarter Travel Areas: Case Study of Smarter Travel Areas – Limerick, Dungarvan, Westport 168 Outlook 169 Transport and Planning 169 Greening Transport Survey 169 The 2030 Rail Network Strategy 169 Rail Freight 170 Road Freight 170 Reducing Vehicle Emissions 170 Demand Reduction Measures 171 Cycling and Walking Initiatives 171 Conclusions and Future Challenges 171 Key High-level Messages 171 References 172