Ireland's State of the Environment Report 2024

396 Chapter 14: Environment, Health and Wellbeing Key chapter messages 1. Our health and wellbeing is inextricably linked to our surrounding environment. The health benefits of a vibrant natural world are countless, providing us with breathable air, drinkable water, productive soils and spaces for us to spend time in and enjoy, enhancing both our physical and mental health and wellbeing. Reducing pollution, adapting to and mitigating climate impacts, and restoring ecosystems can have enormous benefits for our health and wellbeing. Solutions that can help tackle one issue can have multiple co-benefits for others. Implementation of solutions that can maximise benefits across multiple domains should be prioritised. 2. The harmful environmental exposures causing disease and early death are modifiable. People are healthier and live longer when we address issues such as air and water pollution, radon exposure, chemical exposure and greenhouse gas emissions. 3. The impacts of environmental hazards and exposures are not equal across society. More efforts are required to assess inequalities in both levels of exposure and impact at a finer geographical scale to determine whether measures implemented are helping to bridge the gap.