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

Ireland’s Environment – An Integrated Assessment 2020 Topic Box 15.2 Examples of Smart, Integrated Solutions to Tackle Air Pollution and Deliver Multiple Benefits n Tackle road transport emissions by increasing investment in public transport and walking and cycling infrastructure rather than relying solely on car owners to switch to electric cars. Re-align the location of the housing supply to ensure more supply closer to centres of employment and public transport infrastructure rather than in suburban car-served locations. As well as improving air quality, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reducing noise pollution, this would also alleviate traffic congestion and have added benefits for people’s health, wellbeing and quality of life, as well as improving the attractiveness of urban centres and public spaces. n Tackle ammonia emissions from agriculture by transitioning to low-emission technologies (e.g. low-emission slurry spreading techniques) coupled with improved soil fertility and nutrient management, which maximises nutrient uptake and results in a lower risk of run-off of nutrients and pathogens into watercourses. n Combine regulatory and enforcement efforts to reduce ‘smoky’ emissions from solid fuel heating with a greatly expanded systematic and target- based programme of retrofitting homes with insulation and heat pumps, resulting in warmer, more comfortable homes and associated health benefits. It is clear that, despite significant progress in recent decades, more needs to be done to further protect human health and the environment from air pollution and to fulfil Ireland’s EU and international obligations on air quality. The priority actions for Ireland on air quality, identified by the Commission in its 2019 EIR, are shown in Topic Box 15.3. Topic Box 15.3 Priority Actions for Ireland on Air Quality as Identified by the European Commission (EC, 2019b) n Take action, in the context of the forthcoming NAPCP, to reduce emissions from the main emission sources. n Accelerate the reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions. This will require, for example, a further reduction in transport emissions, particularly in urban areas (and may require proportionate and targeted urban vehicle access restrictions), and/or fiscal incentives. n Reduce ammonia emissions to comply with currently applicable national emission ceilings, for example by introducing or expanding the use of low-emission slurry spreading techniques. n Reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds. The NAPCP is the main governance measure by which EU Member States must ensure that the reduction commitments for 2020 and 2030 are met. The first NAPCPs were due by 1 April 2019. Ireland submitted a draft NAPCP to the Commission in April 2019. As the latest projections show that Ireland is facing challenges in meeting reduction targets (as outlined above), an NAPCP with updated emission reduction policies is currently being finalised. The Irish Government’s 2019 Climate Action Plan will have positive benefits for air quality, particularly in relation to the promotion of electric vehicles and upgrades to housing, including insulation and modes of home heating. The government in late 2019 commenced public consultation on Ag-Climatise – A Draft National Climate & Air Roadmap for the Agriculture Sector to 2030 and Beyond , to develop a roadmap for how Ireland’s agri-food sector can meet the necessary emissions reduction targets for both air pollutants and greenhouse gases. It sets out a series of 13 proposed actions to be implemented between 2021 and 2030 to deliver emissions reductions, as well as further actions to build partnerships and prepare for the future. Encouragingly, the consultation document recognises the synergies with other environmental priorities and the multiple benefits that can be delivered for air quality, climate, water quality and biodiversity arising from actions such as improvements in nutrient management. The final Ag-Climatise is expected to be published shortly. 396