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

Chapter 15: Environmental Performance, Policy and Implementation showing a 10 per cent increase between 2013 and 2019. The EU ETS covers greenhouse gas emitters in the industry, power and aviation sectors, while all other non-ETS sectors are covered by the EU Effort Sharing Decision. In 2019, Ireland exceeded its annual EU emissions budget under the Effort Sharing Decision for the fourth year in a row, by almost 7 million tonnes, and is therefore not on the pathway required to meet its 2020 targets. Ireland’s non-ETS emissions are projected to be to be only 2-4 per cent below 2005 levels in 2020, compared with the EU target of 20 per cent (EPA, 2020b). Although the impact of COVID-19 will narrow this gap, it is expected that Ireland will still need to rely on purchasing credits or allowances in order to comply with its 2020 targets. Achieving the 2030 targets will require full implementation of the 2019 Climate Action Plan and the use of flexibilities in relation to land use, land use change and forestry. As outlined in Chapter 2, the pace of emissions reduction will need to accelerate beyond 2030. The Commission did not include any priority actions on climate action in its most recent EIR report, noting that it will first need to assess Ireland’s National Energy and Climate Plan 2021-2030. Ireland’s Performance on Air While most air pollutants were below the EU limit and target values for ambient air quality in 2019, there was an exceedance of the nitrogen dioxide annual limit value at a Dublin monitoring location. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) guideline values for air quality at 33 EPA monitoring stations were also exceeded, mostly because of the levels of fine particles in the air. Ireland’s emissions of ammonia and nitrogen oxides breached agreed limits. The EU has developed a comprehensive body of air quality legislation, which establishes health-based standards and objectives for a number of air pollutants, including particulate matter, nitrogen oxides and ammonia. More recent EU clean air policy and legislation require significant improvement of air quality, moving the EU closer to the more stringent guideline values recommended by the WHO. While air quality in Ireland compares favourably overall with that in other EU Member States, which itself is generally improving, recent improvements in monitoring suggest that localised air quality in Ireland’s cities, towns and villages is likely to be poorer than previously reported, particularly during the winter when solid fuels are used for home heating. As outlined in Chapter 3, urban air pollution is attributable mainly to emissions from solid fuel burning (particulate matter) and transport (nitrogen oxides). While most air pollutants were below the EU limit and target values for ambient air quality in 2019 (EPA, 2020c), there was an exceedance of the nitrogen dioxide annual limit value at a Dublin monitoring location. WHO’s guideline values for air quality at 33 EPA monitoring stations were also exceeded, mostly because of the levels of fine particles in our air (see Table 15.3). There were also two breaches of the WHO guideline value for ground- level ozone in 2019 and four breaches of the European Environment Agency (EEA) guideline value for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (EPA, 2020c). Nitrogen oxides emissions are projected to reduce and to be compliant, provided that planned measures, particularly in relation to the Climate Action Plan, are implemented (EPA, 2020d). As discussed in Chapter 13, Ireland’s ammonia emissions have been rising steadily since 2011, linked to the expansion of the dairy sector. Ammonia is harmful to human health as a precursor of secondary particulate matter and it also poses a significant threat to water quality and ecosystems. Ireland is currently in breach of its ammonia reduction target and is not projected to meet its 2020 or 2030 targets. Current projections indicate that compliance with the 2030 reduction target for non- methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) will also be a challenge (EPA, 2020d). Addressing the main sources of air pollution (transport, solid fuel burning and agriculture) will require an integrated cross-sector response from government. In this context, while the government’s 2019 Climate Action Plan will result in positive benefits for air quality, the continuing lack of a National Clean Air Strategy is a significant gap. Tackling air pollution in a more coordinated and integrated way will deliver multiple health, climate, environmental and societal benefits (Topic Box 15.2). 395