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

Chapter 3: Air Quality Particulate Matter Particulate matter levels are a concern countrywide. All solid fuels (e.g. coal, peat and wood) produce fine particulate matter emissions. Fine particulate matter in our air has well-established impacts on respiratory and cardiovascular health. This is particularly problematic in or near towns and cities because of the cumulative effects of multiple sources of the pollutant and the large numbers of people exposed. Home Heating People are encouraged to think twice about using an open fire or a solid fuel stove unless they have no other form of heating available. For stoves and biomass boilers, emissions levels can vary depending on the quality of the installation, the choice of fuel, how well the stove/boiler is maintained and the way it is used. Moving to cleaner ways of heating our homes will significantly improve air quality in our towns and cities. Air quality considerations need to be integrated into planning decisions at national and local levels. This includes considering healthier home heating options at the design stage for new homes and large-scale home renovations, as well as considering transport options when planning large housing developments. The EPA infographic heating your home and its impact on air quality and health from the 2019 air quality report outlines the spectrum of home heating choices. Any move along the spectrum towards cleaner choices will reduce air pollution in your local area and will also reduce the linked negative health impacts. 4 Ammonia Emissions from Agriculture From an emissions perspective, ammonia emissions from agriculture require immediate attention. Projections for future years up to 2030 show Ireland exceeding the reduction commitments for every year if further measures are not put in place. This presents a major challenge considering the agriculture and food sector’s strong performance and ambition. There is a need for abatement measures to be adopted at the farm level for progress to be made. 4 https://www.epa.ie/pubs/reports/air/quality/Air%20Quality%20In%20 Ireland%202019.pdf Awareness Continued education, public information and awareness raising are required to inform the public about air quality and its link to health impacts. Continued engagement with local communities through citizen science initiatives such as the GLOBE Programme can help to raise awareness of local air quality issues (EPA, 2020). Integrated Solutions Many air pollutant sources have an impact on both air quality and greenhouse gas emissions. Actions to mitigate climate change need to consider impacts on air quality and vice versa, so that we avoid unintended consequences. Actions should also link with measures to mitigate noise pollution from transport sources. There is no ‘one size fits all’ solution: for example, what works in rural areas may not work in urban areas. We need integrated approaches to meeting Ireland’s climate targets and protecting its air quality. The National Clean Air Strategy as part of the National Air Pollution Control Programme which was first announced in 2017, should also include positive actions for climate change. The government’s 2019 Climate Action Plan will also have co-benefits for air quality across a number of sectors, including residential heating and transport. Examples of planned actions include promotion of electric vehicles and upgrades to housing with improved insulation and cleaner modes of home heating. As a country we should have the ambition to adopt the WHO air quality guideline values as national air quality standards. This would provide for a higher level of public health protection and cleaner air for all. A nationwide smoky coal ban would allow the benefits of improved air quality to be experienced by all. At a European level, the implementation of the Zero-Pollution Action Plan, expected to be published in 2021, and the promotion of sustainable and smart mobility plans as part of the EU Green Deal, should have positive effects for Ireland provided that there are clear implementation pathways. Air Quality Research Continued research into the ever-evolving situation regarding air quality is necessary. Recently funded projects looking at additional emissions sources such as shipping and real-world traffic emissions and the impacts of agriculture on air quality are ongoing. The findings of this research will be needed to inform effective policy responses to the challenges in these areas. 79