Ireland will have difficulty adhering to EU emission limits for nitrogen oxide if upward trends in road traffic continue, according to a report published by Minister for the Environment Dick Roche yesterday.
Ireland's Progress Towards Environmental Sustainability, produced by the Department of the Environment and Local Government, said the increase in road transport and vehicle numbers is sustaining emissions of nitrogen oxide, despite reduced emissions from individual vehicles.
Between 1990 and 2004, fuel use in transport more than doubled, as did greenhouse gas emissions from transport. Vehicle numbers almost doubled over the same period.
The report said a continuation of the trends will present difficulties for Ireland in remaining below the upper limit of nitrogen oxide set for 2010 under the National Emissions Ceiling Directive. But, it said, provisions under the National Development Plan for public transport and renewable energy would curtail the emissions.
The report said that Ireland will meet its commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the Kyoto Protocol, but it will need to purchase 18 million carbon credits to do so. It said the Government has designated €270 million to purchase the credits through the carbon fund, which is to be established through legislation in 2007.
It listed measures already introduced to reduce emissions and said in the National Development Plan 2007-2013, over €14 billion would be invested in ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including €13 billion in public transport and €750 million in waste management.
It also said that opportunities for longer-term reductions in greenhouse gas emissions "will need to be identified and delivered".
The introduction of excess nutrients (eutrophication) into rivers and estuaries remains a significant problem in Ireland, the report said, and one of the principal causes is poor agricultural practice. The Nitrates Action Programme, introduced in 2005, and an increased uptake in the Rural Environmental Protection Scheme (Reps) for farmers, would help to curtail inappropriate practices. But continued "major efforts" would be required to ensure we meet the Water Framework Directive, which requires that Ireland protect, enhance and restore all bodies of surface water by 2015.
"Much of the required work is provided for under the NDP," the report said.
In terms of waste management, the report said that much of the groundwork has already been done, but we are still too reliant on landfill. It stated that overall waste generation remains "stubbornly high".
Some €753 million will be invested in the waste management area under the NDP, the report said, including in the funding of incinerators "so that Ireland can have a fully integrated waste management structure with landfill used only for the final residual waste". The reduction in waste to landfill required under EU directives represents a "significant challenge".
On planning, the report said one-third of all homes have been built in the past decade, and the sector has experienced increases in the range of dwellings available. The implementation of the National Spatial Strategy, to ensure more balanced regional development, will be an ongoing challenge.
Environmental challenges: during NDP
Four environmental challenges facing Ireland of the lifetime of the National Development Plan 2007 - 2013:
Nitrogen Oxide - EU national emissions ceiling directive limit of 65 kilotonnes set for 2010: continuing increases in the number of cars and fuel consumption means Ireland will have difficulties remaining below the limit. Government says investment in public transport and renewable energy will curtail the emissions.
Greenhouse gases - Kyoto Protocol to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2012: increasing car sales are contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, as is carbon energy use in heating and industry - Government will spend €270 million purchasing carbon credits and invest in renewable energy technologies.
Water eutrophication - (introduction of excess nutrients into rivers and estuaries causing plant and algae growth) The Water Framework Directive requires that Ireland protect, enhance and restore all bodies of surface water by 2015: Government says the Nitrates Action Programme and an increased uptake in the Rural Environmental Protection Scheme for farmers will help to curtail inappropriate practices.
Waste management - The Landfill Directive requires a reduction in landfilling of biodegradable waste to 35 per cent of its 1995 level by 2016: overall waste generation remains "stubbornly high": Government will invest €753 million in the area, to include the provision of incinerators.
