EPA - Ireland's Environment, An Integrated Assessment - 2020

Ireland’s Environment – An Integrated Assessment 2020 Figure 15.1  Summary of key selected environmental legislation, policies and plans in place in Ireland across the key thematic areas Climate Action Air Quality Nature Objectives Reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy efficiency and renewable energy, assess and manage adaptation to climate change Global • UN Framework Convention on Climate Change • Paris Agreement • Kyoto Protocol European Directives and Policies • EU Green Deal • 2020 Climate and Energy Package • 2030 Climate and Energy Framework • Emissions Trading Directive • Effort Sharing Regulation • Floods Directive • EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change • LULUCF Regulation (EU 2018/841) Draft/in preparation: • EU Climate Law National Policies/Plans • Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2020 • Climate Action Plan (2019) • National Mitigation Plan (2017) • National Adaptation Framework (2018) • National Policy Position on Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (2013) • Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act (2015) • Sectoral adaptation and mitigation plans (various) • National Energy and Climate Plan (2021-2030) Local/regional plans • Local authority Adaptation Plans (2019) and Low Carbon Roadmaps • Flood Risk Management Plans Objectives Maintain and improve air quality and reduce emissions of specified air pollutants to protect human health and the environment Global • UN Air Convention (also known as the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution) European Directives and Policies • EU Green Deal • Clean Air Package • CAFE Directive • National Emission Ceilings Directive • Emissions directives e.g. Industrial Emissions Directive,Vehicle (Euro) Emission standards, Ecodesign Directive for stoves National Policies/Plans • National Air Pollution Control Programme (2019) Draft/in preparation: • National Clean Air Strategy Local/regional plans • Low Smoke Zones Objectives Protect and conserve Ireland’s natural heritage and biodiversity, including designated species and habitats Global • Convention on Biological Diversity and associated Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 • Bonn Convention • Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance • Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora European Directives and Policies • EU Green Deal • Habitats Directive • Birds Directive • EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 • Marine Strategy Framework Directive National Policies/Plans • National Biodiversity Action Plan (2017-2021) • All-Ireland Pollinator Plan (2015-2020) • National Peatlands Strategy 2015 • National Raised-Bog SAC Management Plan 2017 Local/regional plans • Local authority Biodiversity Action Plans and Green Infrastructure Strategies Water Quality Waste and Circular Economy Cross-cutting and Integrated Environmental Assessment Objectives Improve and maintain good water quality, including groundwater, rivers, lakes, estuaries, coastal waters and bathing waters Global • OSPAR Convention • MARPOL Convention European Directives and Policies • Water Framework Directive • Marine Strategy Framework Directive • Bathing Water Directive • Groundwater Directive • Nitrates Directive • Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive National Policies/Plans • River Basin Management Plan (RBMP) (2018-2021) • Nitrates Action Programme • Marine Strategy Framework Directive Programme of Measures Local/regional plans • Priority areas for action (under the RBMP) Objectives Reduce waste generation, improve waste management and promote more efficient resource use Global • Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal European Directives and Policies • EU Green Deal • Circular Economy Action Plan • Waste Framework Directive • Individual producer responsibility directives on Packaging,WEEE, End-of-life Vehicles, Batteries and Accumulators, etc. • Landfill Directive • Waste Shipment Regulation • Single-use Plastics Directive National Policies/Plans • National Waste Policy 2020-2025,A Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy • Climate Action Plan (2019) • National Waste Prevention Programme (last reviewed 2018) • National Hazardous Waste Management Plan (2014- 2020) Local/regional plans • Regional Waste Management Plan 2015-2021 • Litter management plans Objectives Improve environmental protection and promote sustainable development Global • UN Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 • Landscape Convention European Directives and Policies • EU Green Deal • Industrial Emissions Directive • Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive • Environmental Impact Assessment Directive • Environmental Liabilities Directive • Common Agricultural Policy National Policies/Plans • National Implementation Plan for the Sustainable Development Goals (2018-2020) • Our Sustainable Future (2012) • Project Ireland 2040 • National Landscape Strategy • EPA Enforcement and Compliance Policy Local/regional plans • Local authority Landscape Character Assessments CAFE, Clean Air for Europe; LULUCF, land use, land use change and forestry; MARPOL Convention, International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships; OSPAR Convention, Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic; SAC, Special Area of Conservation; WEEE, waste electrical and electronic equipment. 388