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EPA - Ireland's Environment 2016 - An Assessment Next Page
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EPA - Ireland's Environment 2016 - An Assessment Next Page

 


Foreword 		10
Acknowledgements 		12
Executive Summary 		14
Environment and Health and Wellbeing 		14
Climate Change 		15
Implementation of Legislation 		15
Sustainable Economic Activities 		17
Nature and Wild Places 		17
Community Engagement 		18
Challenges 		18
Section I Introduction 		19
Chapter 1 Introduction 		20
Introduction 		21
Content of the Report 		22
Mixed Progress in Addressing Environmental Challenges 		22
References 		24
Section II Environmental Assessments 		25
Chapter 2 Air Quality and Transboundary Air Emissions 		26
Introduction 		27
Air Quality and Health 		29
EU Directives on Air Quality 		30
Transboundary Air Emissions 		30
The Current Air Quality Situation in Ireland 		31
Main Air Pollutants 		31
Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) 		31
Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5) 		32
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) 		32
Ground-level Ozone (O3) 		32
Other Pollutants 		33
Quantity of Air Pollutants Emitted 		33
Transboundary Air Pollutants 		33
Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) 		34
Oxides of Nitrogen (NOX) 		34
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) 		34
Ammonia (NH3) 		34
Other Transboundary Pollutants 		35
Responses 		35
EU Legislation 		35
Clean Air Policy Package 		35
WHO Guideline Values 		35
Industry 		35
Residential Heating 		35
Road Transport 		36
Shipping 		36
Transboundary Air Pollution 		36
EPA Air Research Programme 		37
Key Achievements of Air Pollution Research 		37
Priority Areas for Air Pollution Research 		37
Outlook for Air Quality in Ireland 		38
Conclusions and Future Challenges 		39
References 		40
Chapter 3 Climate Change 		42
Introduction 		43
Scientific Understanding 		43
The Responses to Climate Change 		44
We Know What to Do to Address Climate Change 		44
The Paris Agreement 		45
EU Climate and Energy Package 		46
Adaptation Action at the EU Level 		47
Impacts of Climate Change in the Marine Environment 		47
National Legislation and Policy 		47
Ireland’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions 		48
Per Capita Emissions in Ireland and EU Emissions 		49
Emissions Projections 		50
Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry 		50
Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation 		51
Sectoral Impacts of Climate Change for Ireland 		51
National Policy Development 		51
National Climate Science Research 		52
Outlook and Conclusions 		52
Key Messages 		52
Climate Change 		52
References 		53
Chapter 4 Nature 		54
Introduction 		55
Biodiversity 		55
Habitats and Species 		55
Current Status and Trends 		56
Habitat Trends 		56
Species Trends 		57
Birds 		57
The Bird Atlas and Citizen Science 		58
Red Lists Species 		59
Drivers and Pressures 		59
Key Pressures on Ireland’s Habitats and Species 		59
Invasive Alien Species 		60
Raised Bogs and the Abbeyleix Bog Project 		60
Responses 		61
Natura 2000 Network 		61
Brown Bog SAC (002346) - Site-specific Conservation Objectives 		61
Threat Response Plans 		62
Group Species Action Plans for the Protection of Birds 		62
Reintroducing Birds of Prey (Raptors) to Ireland with Mixed Success 		62
National Biodiversity Plan - Actions for Biodiversity 2011-2016 		63
National Agri-environment Scheme - GLAS 		63
All-Ireland Pollinator Plan 20152020 		64
Knowledge Base 		64
National Biodiversity Data Centre 		64
Research 		64
Conclusions and Future Challenges 		68
Climate Change 		68
References 		69
Chapter 5 Inland and Marine Waters 		70
Introduction 		71
Ireland’s Marine Environment 		72
Current Situation 		73
Drivers and Pressures 		76
Eutrophication 		76
Threats to Improving Water Quality 		77
Urban Waste Water 		77
Inland Fisheries Issues 		77
Marine Litter 		77
Dredging of Marine Harbours and Marinas 		78
Marine Fisheries and Aquaculture 		78
Impacts of Commercial Fishing 		78
Sea Fishing By-catch 		79
Impacts of Marine Aquaculture 		79
Responses 		80
River Catchment Planning 		80
Tackling Diffuse Pollution 		81
Diffuse Pollution 		81
Agriculture 		81
Assessing the Impact of Cattle Access to Streams 		82
Rural Development Programmes 		82
Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems 		83
Tackling Point Source Pollution 		83
Urban Waste Water Treatment 		83
EPA Water Research Programme 		83
Key Achievements 		84
Outlook 		85
Progress with Water Framework Targets 		85
Agricultural Policy and Water Protection 		85
Local Community Initiatives 		85
Domestic Waste Water 		85
Urban Waste Water 		85
Environmental Quality Standards for Hazardous Substances 		86
Marine Waters 		86
Impacts of Climate Change on the Water Environment 		87
Impacts of Climate Change in the Marine Environment 		87
Seaweed Harvesting 		88
Catchment and Ecosystem Services 		88
Economic Policy Instruments 		88
What are Economic Policy Instruments? 		89
Conclusions and Future Challenges 		89
The Current Condition of Inland and Marine Waters and the Pressures Acting on Them 		89
Why is Progress So Slow and What Steps Are Needed to Accelerate Change? 		90
References 		91
Chapter 6 Waste Management 		94
The Current Situation 		95
Waste Policy and Planning 		96
Waste Regulation 		96
Waste Targets and Prevention 		97
Waste Prevention 		97
Waste Generation 		98
Extended Producer Responsibility 		98
Tyres/Waste Tyres 		98
Waste Management and Infrastructure 		101
Municipal Waste Management 		101
Food Waste 		101
Litter and Fly-tipping 		102
See it? Say it! 		102
Construction and Demolition Waste 		102
Management of Animal By-products 		103
Hazardous Waste Management 		103
Farm Hazardous Waste Collection Scheme 		104
Radioactive Waste Management 		104
Explosive and Pyrotechnic Waste 		105
Biological Waste Treatment 		105
Sewage Sludge 		105
Marine Litter 		106
Waste Research 		107
Drivers and Pressures 		107
Consumption and waste generation 		107
EU Legislation and Action Plans 		107
Responses 		107
National Policy and Implementation 		107
Future Challenges 		107
References 		108
Chapter 7 Land and Soil 		110
Introduction 		111
The Current Situation 		112
Land Use and Land Cover 		112
Land Cover and Land Use Datasets 		112
Land Cover Data Reporting Variation 		114
Agriculture 		114
Peatlands 		114
Forestry 		114
Soil Health 		115
Soil Biodiversity 		115
Drivers and Pressures 		115
Changes in Land Use and Land Cover 		115
Strategic Planning and Sector Issues 		116
Responses 		118
Spatial Planning 		118
Land Cover Mapping 		118
Irish Soil Information System 		118
Irish Soil Information System 		118
National Landscape Strategy 		119
National Peatlands Strategy 		120
Identification and Clean-up of Contaminated Land 		120
Agriculture 		120
River Catchment-based Flood Risk Assessment and Management 		121
National Forest Review Policy 		122
Research 		122
References 		123
Section III Environment, Health and Wellbeing 		125
Chapter 8 Environment, Health and Wellbeing 		127
Introduction 		127
Healthy Ireland - A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 		129
Environment and Wellbeing 		130
Sustainable Living 		130
Individual Choices 		132
Regulation and Policy 		132
Clean Air and Health 		132
Dioxins 		133
Noise 		133
Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act (2015) 		133
Odours 		134
Bioaerosols 		135
Clean Water and Health 		135
Private Wells 		137
Urban Waste Water 		137
Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems 		140
Bathing Water 		140
Shellfish 		141
Radioactivity in the Environment 		141
Radon 		142
Non-ionising Radiation 		142
Other Environmental and Health Issues 		143
Climate Change, Health and Wellbeing 		143
Genetically Modified Organisms 		143
Heavy Metals 		144
Pharmaceuticals in the Environment 		144
Healthy Food 		145
Key Achievements 		146
Priority Areas 		146
Conclusion 		146
References 		147
Section IV Environment and the Economy 		149
Chapter 9 Environment and the Economy: Overview - Importance of the Environment to the Economy 		150
Introduction 		151
Global Sustainability Models 		152
Economic Cost of Not Protecting our Environment 		152
National “Environomic” Performance 		152
International and National Policy Context 		153
Living Well, Within the Limits of our Planet 		153
Resilient People, Resilient Planet 		154
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 		154
Strategies for a Resource-efficient and 		155
Harmful Environmental Subsidies 		155
Raw Material Use in the Economy 		156
Ireland - Our Sustainable Future 		157
Key Current and Emerging Policy Trends 		157
Circular Economy 		157
Circular Economy 		157
Emerging Environmental Governance trends 		159
Ireland’s National Plan for Corporate Social Responsibility 20142016 		159
Assessing the Life Cycle of Goods and Services 		160
Sector Plans and Policy Context 		160
Economic Sector Plans for Sustainability 		160
Strategies to Deliver More Efficient Businesses 		161
Green Procurement 		162
Economic Value of the Environment 		162
Ecosystem Services - The Value of Being Clean and Green 		162
Conclusions and Outlook 		163
References 		163
Chapter 10 Environment and Transport 		166
Introduction 		167
Current Trends 		168
Transport Emissions 		168
Air Pollution and Transport 		168
Other Environmental Pressures 		169
Passenger Road Transport 		169
Road Freight 		170
Rail and Bus 		170
Cycling 		170
Aviation 		170
Marine and Navigation 		171
What’s Being Done 		171
Energy Efficiency 		171
Alternative Fuels 		172
Electric Vehicles: Case Study of the Aran Islands Electric Vehicle project 		172
Planning for Sustainable Transport 		172
Smarter Travel Areas: Case Study of Smarter Travel Areas - Limerick, Dungarvan, Westport 		172
Outlook 		173
Transport and Planning 		173
Greening Transport Survey 		173
The 2030 Rail Network Strategy 		173
Rail Freight 		174
Road Freight 		174
Reducing Vehicle Emissions 		174
Demand Reduction Measures 		175
Cycling and Walking Initiatives 		175
Conclusions and Future Challenges 		175
Key High-level Messages 		175
References 		176
Chapter 11 Environment and Energy 		178
Introduction 		179
Current Position and Trends in Energy Use 		180
Current Dependence on Fossil Fuels 		180
Renewable Energy 		181
The Residential Sector: the Second Largest Energy User (After Transport) 		181
Building Energy Rating - Opportunities for Energy Efficiency and Cost Savings for Householders 		182
A Significant Increase in Retrofitting of Homes and Businesses is Essential 		183
Tipperary Energy Agency Warmer Homes Insulation Scheme 		183
What is Being Done (Energy Policy) 		184
Home Energy Storage Enters a New Era 		184
The Energy White Paper - Ireland’s Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future 		185
Ireland’s Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future 20152030 		185
Sustainable Energy Communities 		185
Case Study of the Aran Islands’ Sustainable Energy Community 		186
Future Energy Distribution Systems 		186
Carbon Lock-in, Outlook and Future Challenges 		187
Fossil Fuel Subsidies 		187
Energy Statements 		187
Conclusions and Future Challenges 		188
Key High Level Messages 		188
References 		189
Chapter 12 Environment and Agriculture 		191
Introduction 		191
Value of agriculture in Ireland 		191
The Context of Irish Farming 		191
Structure of Irish Farming 		192
Economic challenges facing the farming community 		193
Food Wise 2025 		194
Current Trends 		195
Greenhouse Gases and Agriculture 		195
Ammonia and Other Emissions to Air and Agriculture 		196
Biodiversity and Agriculture 		196
The Burren Programme 		198
Water Quality and Agriculture 		198
Drinking Water and Agriculture 		198
Farm Hazardous Waste Collection 		200
What’s Being Done 		201
Common Agricultural Policy 		201
Nitrates Action Programme 		201
Origin Green 		201
River Basin Management Plans and the Water Framework Directive 		202
Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 		202
Industrial Emission Licences for Pig and Poultry Enterprises/Installations 		203
Smart Farming 		203
Research Responses 		204
Innovation 		205
Conclusion and Future Challenges 		205
Key High-level Messages 		207
References 		207
Section V Key Messages 		209
Chapter 13 Environmental Challenges and Emerging Issues for Ireland 		210
Introduction 		211
European Perspective 		212
European State of the Environment Report 2015 		212
The 7th Environmental Action Programme 		213
Challenges Outlined in the State of the Environment Report 2012 		213
Key Actions for Ireland in 2016 		215
Key Action 1: Environment and Health and Wellbeing 		215
Key Action 4: Restore and Protect Water Quality 		221
Key Action 5: Sustainable Economic Activities 		223
Key Action 6: Nature and Wild Places 		225
Key Action 7: Community Engagement 		226
Final Remarks 		227
References 		228
Acronyms/Abbreviations 		230
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