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

Chapter 16: Conclusions Responding to Environmental Challenges in Uncertain Times The response to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic is an example of a whole-of-government and whole-of- society response to tackling a public health emergency (Topic Box 16.1). A similar response between society and government is needed to tackle Ireland’s key environmental issues, such as climate change and biodiversity loss. During the pandemic restrictions, people observed changes in their local environments – both positive and negative – that are linked to how Ireland’s people, its communities and its economy go about business generally. The transition out of the coronavirus crisis will provide an opportunity to deliver wider environmental and environmental health and wellbeing dividends. Quieter roads, less traffic and a better appreciation of local green and blue spaces, together with their biodiversity, including wildflowers, butterflies and birds, were valued as quality- of-life improvements that we should strive to maintain and improve on. At the very least, we need to ensure that economic interventions contribute to a more sustainable, less carbon-intensive economy; facilitate the development of a national infrastructure that is fully climate resilient; leave space and wild places for biodiversity, ecosystem services and people; and ensure that emissions and air pollutants are controlled to protect public health. As outlined in Chapter 1, any national economic stimulus package needs to have a strong green investment focus, allied to strong public awareness. This will present real opportunities to advance Ireland’s environmental transition ambitions and its adaptive capacity while delivering enduring economic and social benefits. 423