Mícheál Lehane, EPA - An overview of the EPA’s fifth State of Environment report, outlining the main environmental challenges.

2. Ireland’s Environment 2012: The Main Challenges
State of the Environment in Ireland Conference, 27 June 2012
Dr Mícheál Lehane, Programme Manager, OEA

3. Purpose of SoE Reports
 Provide a snapshot of the environment
 Track trends and changes in the environment
 Evaluate progress in meeting environmental priorities
 Assess if national policies are implemented and working
 Identifies main environmental priorities for the future
 Uses knowledge as a catalyst for action

4. Assessment Framework (DPSIR)
 An integrated assessment of the environment as a whole
 Evidence based
 Socio-economic context and developments
 Pressures on environment
 Quality of environment
 Societal and other responses

5. Policy Context - International
 EU 6th Environmental Action Programme 2002-2012
 4 Priority Areas
 Climate change
 Nature & Biodiversity
 Environment and Health
 Natural Resources and Waste
 Review in 2011
 Acquis largely in place (except for soil)
 Issues with implementation and coherence across countries
 EEA SoE Assessment 2010:
 Environmental policy is effective – but needs to be more flexible and
adaptable to tackle more complex issues in a global context

6. Policy Context - International
 2020 Roadmap for Resource Efficient Europe (2011)
 Transforming economy onto resource efficient path (Green Economy);
 Consumption & production; innovation
 Proposed “Blueprint for Water”
 Purpose to ensure availability of good-quality water for sustainable
and equitable water use
 Looking at how to better integrate water across other policy areas
 Preparations ongoing for 7EAP
 Focus on Resource Efficiency and Implementation

7. National Policy Context - Some Recent Developments
 Climate change – review of National climate policy commenced
in 2011 - looking at future policy options and approaches to
transition to low carbon economy
 Air quality – CAFE Directive in Place since 2011
 Waste - Revised EU Directive transposed in 2011; Consultation
on new National Waste Strategy
 Water –New bathing water Directive in place 2011; decision to
establish Irish Water; WFD – work on governance & structures
 Biodiversity - National Biodiversity Plan 2011-2016
 Framework for Sustainable Development – June 2012
 Overarching framework to integrate principles of SD across policy areas

8. Socio-Economic Context - A Changing Ireland
 Recent Trends
 Economic growth followed by recession
 Demographic changes
 Lifestyle changes & consumption patterns

9. Population Change 2000-2010
 Ireland – population reached
4.5 million in 2011.
 Relatively sparsely populated
at 60 persons/Km2 – EU
average is 116.
 Growth rate 5 times EU
average from 2000-2010
 Increasingly urbanised

10. House Completions 1991-2011
 2010 DECLG survey – 2,800 „Ghost Estates‟
 23,000 completed but unoccupied houses; 20,000 not finished.

11. Private Cars 2000-2010
 Big increase in numbers of new cars to 2009
 2008 onwards - shift towards more smaller engine sizes and
lower emissions.

12. Main Finding of SoE Report
 Ireland‟s environment is a strategic and valuable asset
 Needs to be protected and managed as a basis of economic
wellbeing and a healthy society
 Ireland‟s environment still generally of high quality overall
 Recession lowered pressures in some areas (e.g. waste & GHGs)
 But formidable targets to meet in the coming years
 Overall aim must be for Ireland's economic renewal to be
sustainable – decoupling growth from environmental pressures
 Ireland’s Environment 2012 identifies four key challenges

13. Ireland’s Environment 2012: The Main Challenges

14. Valuing and Protecting our Natural Environment
 Ireland‟s natural environment has a great intrinsic worth
 A good environment is important for health and well-being of
society
 Economic activities require use of natural resources
 Resources require careful and well-informed management to
maximise benefits
 Need to ensure not exhausted/degraded for future generations
 Particular emphasis on water and on biodiversity

15. Water Quality
 Ireland has better than average water quality in EU
 85% of the area of groundwater aquifers is at good status
 71% of river channel is at high or good status
 45% of lake area monitored is at high or good status
 46% of the area of transitional and coastal waters at high or good status

16. Challenges for Water
 The principal cause of water pollution - nutrient enrichment from
agricultural run-off and discharges from municipal WWTPs.
 Evidence of an overall improvement in water quality.
 Ireland faces major challenges to achieve WFD targets set for
2015, 2021 and 2027.
 Current governance & administrative arrangements not optimal to
ensure delivery of WFD objectives efficiently & effectively.
 Review of water governance currently under way
 to deliver more effective integration between the key government departments,
the EPA and the lead local authorities.

17. Nature & Biodiversity
 Irelands‟ has a lower diversity of non-marine flora and fauna
than in continental Europe
 But Ireland has a range of habitats and species – many of
which are important in a European context
 Ireland has legal obligations to protect biodiversity
 Includes commitment to halt biodiversity loss by 2020.
 Progress made in designating EU-protected areas - but
process not complete
 Aspects of biodiversity are under threat from a range of
unsustainable activities

18. Conservation Status of Habitats
 Majority of Ireland‟s habitats listed under the EU Habitats Directive in
poor or bad condition
 Only 7% are considered to be in favourable state
 At EU level approx 17% of protected habitats in a favourable state

19. Conservation Status of Species
 39% of species listed under the Habitats Directive are considered to be
in favourable state (e.g. Bats, seals)
 Some species especially in wetland and freshwater environments
considered to be in bad or poor conservation status.
 At EU level approx 17% of protected species in a favourable state

20. Building a Resource-Efficient, Low-Carbon Economy
 Environment and Economy closely interwoven
 E.g. Ireland‟s water resources to become of increasing importance to economy
 Resource use and waste generation are at unsustainable levels
throughout the EU (EEA, 2010).
 Recession has curbed growth in Ireland that was unsustainable.
 Opportunity to break link between consumption and production and
focus on resource efficiency.
 Resource-efficient and Low Carbon economy - „Green Economy‟
 Can bring increased competitiveness and new sources of growth
 In 2010, 19,000 employed in Green economy sectors
 Up to 10,000 further jobs could be created by 2015
 Longer term- even more significant, esp. in renewable energy area (DJEI, 2012)

21. Resource Use & Waste
 Waste and resource use two-side of the same coin
 Landfill levy and recession driving waste management towards
more sustainable behaviours
 Resource-efficiency investments (e.g. EPA NWPP) can bring
positive environmental outcomes as well as savings to businesses.

22. GHG Emissions – Distance to Kyoto Target
 Ireland on track to meet its Kyoto commitments (2008-2012)
 Using credits purchased; taking unused allowances from ETS)
 Faces considerable challenges to meet its 2020 commitments.

23. GHG Projections to 2020
 Under most optimistic scenario, Ireland will exceed its annual limit
by 2017 and exceed its 2020 target
 Ireland needs to reduce dependence on fossil fuels
 Need for major increases in energy efficiency and use of other
energy sources (wind, ocean, biomass)

24. Implementing Environmental Legislation
 Historically, Ireland has not had a good history of compliance with
EU environmental laws.
 Has resolved substantial number of EU environmental infringement cases in
recent years.
 In coming years - Ireland has a challenging international obligations
on air, water, waste, nature, GHGs
 „Implementation‟ will be a cornerstone of EU 7 EAP
 Costs associated with implementation – but also „Cost of Inaction‟
 Costs of clean up of contaminated land can outweigh cost of prevention
 Study of IPPC licensing regime in Ireland – direct compliance costs borne by
operators less than avoided external pollution costs.
 EU estimated cost of not implementing current legislation estimated at €50 bn
 Benefits to implementing - clean & protected environment
important for health & wellbeing.

25. Putting Environment at Centre of our Decision Making
 Sustainable development context
 Environmental protection and health are also inextricably linked
 Economic well-being is dependant on a clean and well-managed environment
 Key economic sectors reliant on a high quality environment and
clean, green image
 Sectoral plans (e.g. Food Harvest 2020) must take place in a sustainable manner
 Environmental considerations & priorities must be incorporated into
policies & plans
 Strategic environmental assessment of policies and plans
 Good uptake since 2004 – but some sectors yet to meaningfully engage
 Protecting the Environment a Shared Responsibility
 Need leadership and co-ordinated efforts from Government and public bodies
 Businesses and individuals must strengthen their environmental behaviour

26. Summary
 Ireland‟s environment generally of a good standard overall
 Recession has reduced some pressures on the environment
 Meeting Ireland‟s obligations and challenges cannot be reliant
on Ireland staying in a recession
 Ireland faces a key challenges and obligations in coming years
 Economic recovery and renewal – need to have sustainable
development principles at the core
 Overall aim is to ensure that Ireland has a clean and healthy
environment for future generations to enjoy.