Download Section I Executive Summary

Ireland’s Environment 2012
Contents
Executive Summary
Tourism and Hospitality
13
Emissions Trading Scheme 25
Energy
14
Renewable Energy
26
Carbon Tax
27
Section I
Introduction
Public Perceptions
and the Environment
Chapter 1
Conclusion and Future Challenges15
Introduction and
Socio-Economic Context
References
3
Introduction
4
Environmental Policy Context
5
15
16
Land Use and Forestry
27
Climate Change Impacts
and Adaption
28
Climate-Change Research
28
Outlook
29
Conclusion and
Future Challenges
31
References
31
Climate Change
6
Section II
Thematic
Assessments
Air Quality
6
Chapter 2
Waste
6
Water
7
Greenhouse Gases
and Climate Change
21
Chapter 3
Biodiversity
7
Introduction
22
7
22
33
Sustainable Development
The Current Situation
Air Quality and
Transboundary Air Emissions
Drivers and Pressures
23
Introduction
34
The Current Situation
35
Environmental Goals
and Challenges
7
Socio-economic Context
8
Population
Households and
Consumption
vi
x
8
9
Transport Patterns
10
The Economy
11
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing
11
Industry
13
Building and Construction
13
Chemicals/Pharmaceuticals
13
Ireland’s GHG Emissions
and the Kyoto Protocol
23
Sectoral Sources
of GHGs in Ireland
24
Agriculture
24
Energy Generation
24
Transport
24
Industry
24
Responses
Climate-Change Legislation
24
25
Mitigation of GHG Emissions 25
Air Quality – Main Pollutants 35
Oxides of Nitrogen (NOX)
35
Particulate Matter
(PM10 and PM2.5)
35
Polycyclic Aromatic
Hydrocarbons (PAHs)
35
Ground-Level Ozone (O3) 35
Other Pollutants
36
Emissions of Transboundary
Pollutants
36
Sulphur Dioxide (SO2)
37
CONTENTS
Oxides of Nitrogen (NOX)
37
Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOCs)
38
Ammonia (NH3)
38
Other Transboundary
Pollutants
Critical Loads of Acidification
and Eutrophication
Responses
Domestic Waste Water
Treatment Systems
53
Forestry Issues
53
Tackling Point Source Pollution 54
Outlook
38
38
Conclusion and
Future Challenges
56
References
57
39
Chapter 5
Emissions from Industry
39
Road Transport
39
Sustainable Resource Use,
Consumption and Waste
Outlook
40
40
Conclusion and
Future Challenges
40
References
41
Chapter 4
Water
43
Introduction
44
The Current Situation
Groundwater Quality
Nitrate and Phosphate
in Groundwater
68
Waste Prevention
and Research
68
Outlook
69
Conclusion and
Future Challenges
70
References
72
39
European Union Legislation
Bituminous Coal Ban
and Domestic Emissions
55
Waste Management
Planning
Chapter 6
Nature and Biodiversity
75
59
Introduction
76
Introduction
60
The Current Situation
76
The Current Situation
60
Economic Changes
and Waste Generation
60
Municipal Waste
Management
Habitats
76
Species
77
Red Lists
77
61
Drivers and Pressures
78
Household Waste
62
Responses
78
Commercial Waste
62
Biodegradable
Municipal Waste
63
Legislation
78
Biodiversity Planning
79
Biodiversity in the
Wider Countryside
79
44
Producer Responsibility
Initiatives
63
Green Infrastructure
80
44
Hazardous Waste
64
Knowledge Base
80
Waste Infrastructure
65
45
Outlook
81
Drivers and Pressures
65
Protected Areas and Species
81
48
Consumption and
Waste Generation
65
Biodiversity Planning
and Conservation
81
Lake Water Quality
48
Resource Efficiency
66
Socio-economic Benefits
81
Transitional and Coastal
Water Quality
50
66
Public Awareness
81
River Water Quality
45
Canal Water Quality
Drivers and Pressures
51
Responses
51
Water Framework Directive
51
Tackling Diffuse Pollution
52
Responses
EU Resource and
Waste Policies
66
National Policy and
Implementation
66
Conclusion and
Future Challenges
82
References
82
vii
Ireland’s Environment 2012
Chapter 7
Land and Soil
85
Introduction
86
The Current Situation
86
Land Use and Land Cover
86
Section III
Managing
and Protecting
the Environment
Chapter 8
Agriculture
88
Peatland
88
Introduction
100
Forestry
89
Resource Efficiency and
the Green Economy
100
Material Consumption
and Waste
103
Management and Use
of Natural Resources
90
Soil Biodiversity
91
Soil Organic Matter
91
Drivers and Pressures
91
Sea Lettuce
123
99
124
Outdoor Air Quality
124
Indoor Air Quality
125
Radon
127
Ozone and Health
127
Stratospheric Ozone
Depletion
127
Ground-Level Ozone
128
Odour
128
104
Bioaerosols
128
Noise
128
Land Use
91
Water
104
Population Growth
91
Biodiversity
106
Soil Degradation
91
Clean and Efficient Energy
107
91
Sustainable Transport
108
Persistent Organic Pollutants
(POPs)
129
92
Sustainable Agriculture
110
Heavy Metals
130
Environmental Regulation
112
Endocrine Disruptors
and Pharmaceuticals
130
Pharmaceutical and
Personal Care Products
130
Nanomaterials
130
Electromagnetic Radiation
131
Waste
131
Soil Contamination
Responses
Strategic Environmental
Assessment
92
National Landscape Strategy
92
Conclusion and
Future Challenges
112
Environmental Liability
93
References
113
Investment in Research
93
Chapter 9
Conclusion and
Future Challenges
94
Environment and Health
117
References
94
Introduction
118
Ecosystem Services and Health
118
Green Spaces and Health
Clean Water and Health
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123
Clean Air and Health
Environment and
the Economy
Soil
Shellfish
119
120
Drinking Water
120
Waste Water
121
Bathing Water
123
Chemicals and Other Threats
to Health in the Environment
129
Environmental Regulation
and Public Health
131
Conclusion and
Future Challenges
132
References
132
CONTENTS
Chapter 10
Environmental Challenges
and Priorities
135
Introduction
136
Limiting and Adapting
to Climate Change
137
Clean Air
137
Protected Water Resources
138
Protected Soil and Biodiversity
138
Sustainable Use of Resources
139
Integration and Enforcement
140
Integration
140
Enforcement
140
The Role of Research in
Environmental Protection
141
Emerging Issues
142
Fracking
142
Legacy of the Celtic Tiger
142
Marine Environment
143
A Sustainable Ireland
The Green Economy
and Sustainable Growth
for Ireland
Challenge 4:
Putting the Environment
at the Centre of Decision
Making 147
Meeting the Challenges
to Build a Sustainable Ireland 147
References
148
Acronyms/
Abbreviations
150
Glossary
152
143
144
Conclusion and Future
Challenges 145
Building a
Sustainable Ireland
145
Challenge 1:
Valuing and Protecting our
Natural Environment
145
Challenge 2:
Building a Resource-Efficient,
Low-Carbon Economy
146
Challenge 3:
Implementing Environmental
Legislation
146
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