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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