Environmental Services Training Group
LOCAL AUTHORITY ENVIRONMENT CONFERENCE
2015
Protecting Our Environment
Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone,
7 May 2015.
1
Protecting Our Environment
Policies and Strategies for
the Environment
Dave Walsh
Assistant Secretary
Department of Environment, Community
and Local Government
Introduction and focus
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Position of environment within wider
economic and social pressures and priorities
Latest and emerging EU and international
developments
Policy developments in key environmental
areas
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Air Quality
Radon
Aarhus Convention
(waste policy and climate)
Local Government role/opportunities
Policy context
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Our Sustainable Future (2012)
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designed to encompass all three aspects of Govt policies –
economic, social and environmental
whole-of-Government approach, involving co-ordinated action
and outcomes between Depts, Agencies, local government,
stakeholders, etc.
Greening the economy and resource efficiency
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Seeking to change behaviours, across all processes and
policies – business, investor, consumer, policy-makers.
Potential for increased competitiveness, better jobs, improved
health and well-being – 19,000+ already employed in sector,
€7bn value of low-carbon goods.
APJ – 7 areas targeting green economy – OECD, DJEI etc.
Major innovation opportunities – policy and products (e.g.
clean-tech, green procurement – EPA 2014 guidance)
Policy context (2)
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Improved environmental standards
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Tighter air quality emissions – industrial (IED), vehicle (CO2
standards), solid fuel … but still significant challenges with
NOx and PMs
Stringent water quality standards – WWT, drinking water,
bathing etc … but RBMPs will further raise the bar.
Higher recycling rates and limits on landfilling of waste, but
scope for new markets (by-products, bio-waste etc.)
Phasing out of harmful chemicals, hazardous substances etc.
Compliance
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EU Directives and Regulations – fines already imposed!
National initiatives and requirements
Incentivising “early moving” and tapping into innovation
potential – transferability of approach/technology across EU 28
and beyond.
Agency-business collaborations
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EPA
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“Be Green” campaign, working with employers to
identify mechanisms, better practices to save money
and improve the environment
National Waste Prevention Programme, LA Prevention
Network, Green Business - Healthcare, Hospitality,
Farming, Green Home, SMILE Resource Exchange etc.
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e.g. Resource Efficiency Assessments for companies yielded
average savings of €40,000 p.a. per site in 2013
SEAI
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Energy audits
SME Support Centre
Large Energy Users
Public Sector Programme
Air Quality
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Policy context:
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More than just intangible issues:
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CAFÉ Directive, 2008/50/EC
Transposed by Air Pollution Act and various SIs
EEA estimates 1,229 deaths in Ireland due to air pollution
…. and we are considered to have relatively good air
quality (thanks largely to geography/weather!)
Compliant with EU standards, but in excess of WHO
guideline values for some PM values … can do better.
EPA monitoring and reporting
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29 stations around country – is that enough?
Annual reports (+ monthly bulletins)
Solid Fuel Regulations – “Smoky coal”
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Smoky coal ban
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In place since 1990 – immediate visible impact!
Instrumental in reducing SO2 / PM values
Extended last year to 26 urban areas of 15,000 people
or more – demand for county-wide/countrywide
introduction?
SWiFt7 standard for coal (0.7% S02) outside ban areas.
Joint North/South study - under NSMC
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Considering emissions from residential buildings (not
just smoky coal), with a view to setting context for
further policy decisions.
LAs to be consulted on interim analysis/findings.
Aiming to conclude study by end-2015.
New EU air pollution ceilings
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National Emissions Ceiling (NEC) Directive
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Currently being debated at EU level
Looking at new stricter targets for 2020 and
2030, including for PMs
Will require examination of key sectors –
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Industry (IED)
Transport – increasing traffic, diesel cars and PMs
Agriculture – FH2020, no milk quotas, slurry spreading
Building standards – more scope? Home-heating
fuels/devices?
Links to Climate GHGs – 2030 negotiations?
Radon
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Radon
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naturally occurring radio-active gas.
Estimated to cause 13% (or 250) of all lung
cancers in Ireland
High-radon areas – 12 priority counties – to
date, targeted awareness campaigns in 10.
But ..
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While 56,000 homes tested since 1990s, only around
25% undertake remediation work
Factors – low awareness of health impacts, costs,
confidence in remediation measures?
Targeting businesses, schools etc as well.
Radon – where is it a problem?
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Some areas are
more at risk than
others
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About 1/3 of the
country are High
Radon Areas
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Predictive radon
map of Ireland
shows the %
homes in each
10km square likely
to be > 200 Bq/m3
National Radon Control Strategy
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NRCS (Feb 2014)
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30 actions across 6 thematic areas:
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installation of passive preventive measures in new buildings;
use of property transactions (sales and rental) to drive action on
radon;
raising of radon awareness and encouraging individual action on
radon;
provision of advice and guidance for individual householders and
employers with high radon readings;
promoting confidence in radon services; and
addressing radon in workplaces and public buildings
20 actions begun, with substantial progress on 9
4-year implementation timeframe (annual reporting)
Continuing radon awareness campaigns –
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National Radon Forum – 3 June (Wexford)
Aarhus Convention
3 Pillars
Access to information on the environment
 Public participation in environmental decision
making
 Access to justice
Links environmental and human rights, Govt
accountability and env protection … focus on
democratic engagement.
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Can sometimes be seen solely as an obligation, delay to
decision-making but can also have benefits – roadtesting plans, buy-in from community/stakeholders,
It’s about bringing people with you and shaping better
plans!
Aarhus Convention
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Ratified by Ireland in 2012
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60+ pieces of legislation used to implement here in Ireland
Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee – dealing with
complaints and queries re transposition/application.
Aarhus related priorities for DECLG
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Continued roll-out of training and awareness to public
authorities – to include LAs.
Particular focus on planned Aarhus Bill 2015 which seeks to
clarify and further enhance transposition of Convention
Collection and publication of statistics on AIE from all public
authorities for 2014
Update and publish (on-line) AIE Guidance Notes
Development of Public Participation guidelines, in conjunction
with the Maastricht Recommendations
Resolving open EU infringement
Waste Policy
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A lot happening in this area:
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Implementation of 2012 Govt policy:
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Regional Waste Management Plans (2015-21)
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focus on protecting environment (prevention, re-use
and recycle) and exploiting the economic potential of
waste – a sustainable, circular economy
3 lead LAs (Mayo, Dublin and Limerick/Tipp)
Policy and performance based – e.g. setting out
coherent targets including 1% reduction per annum
in household waste
Enforcement initiative (through PSROG)
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Proposal for lead LA in three regions to strengthen
enforcement capacity - sharing experiences and
expertise at regional level, avoiding duplication etc.
Waste Policy (2)
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Reform of household waste collection regime:
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Requirement for pay-by-weight collection (July 2015)
Transitional period for PBW charging (July 2016)
Statutory requirement for customer charters
Fixed payment notices for collectors/households
Able to charge for permit/licence reviews
400,000 tonnes reduction expected in domestic
waste, with majority of households having a lower
annual waste bill.
EU developments – uncertainty around timing
and ambition of new Waste Package of
measures.
Where next?
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Challenge in maintaining focus on environment
within constrained resources, but opportunities
also exist …
Evolving international context:
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Paris Climate COP – new global agreement?
Agreement on new UN Sus Dev Goals – Sept’15?
New medium-term EU targets – waste, air, climate
National policy developments … ongoing
Collaboration between LAs, State Agencies and
Govt Departments can help deliver:
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Effective implementation and outcomes of env policies
and priorities (through dev plan objectives, PPNs,
integration with other local/regional actions etc.)
Thank You
david.walsh@environ.ie