SEA Environmental Report Appendix III: Non-Technical Summary
3.7 Air and Climatic Factors Total emissions of greenhouse gases by humans come from various sectors including transport, agriculture, energy industries, manufacturing combustion, industrial processes, residential developments, commercial services developments, waste management processes and fluorinated gases equipment (such as refrigeration and fire protection systems). The National Climate Action Plan 2019 is an all of Government plan to tackle climate change and bring about a step change in Ireland’s climate ambition over the coming years. The Plan sets out an ambitious course of action over the coming years to address the diverse and wide-ranging impacts climate disruption is having on Ireland's environment, society, economic and natural resources. The Climate Action Plan sets out clear 2030 targets for each sector with the ultimate objective of achieving a transition to a competitive, low-carbon, climate-resilient, and environmentally sustainable society and economy by 2050. The Action Plan deals with both mitigation and adaptation. Climate mitigation describes action to reduce the likelihood of climate change occurring or reduce the impact if it does occur. This can include reducing the causes of climate change (e.g. emissions of greenhouse gases) as well as reducing future risks associated with climate change. The Climate Change Advisory Council’s Annual Review 2020 identifies that the most recent projections demonstrate that, under different assumptions, Ireland will not meet its emissions reduction targets, even with the additional policies and measures included in the National Development Plan. The projections also show that progress on reducing emissions is sensitive to the future path of fuel prices. A significant and sustained rate of emissions reduction of approximately - 2.5% per year is required to meet agreed objectives for 2050. It is noted that additional measures within the recent Climate Action Plan are not included. Climate adaptation is a change in natural or human systems in response to the impacts of climate change. These changes moderate harm or exploit beneficial opportunities and can be in response to actual or expected impacts. The National Adaptation Framework Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, 2018), sets out the national strategy to reduce the vulnerability of the country to the negative effects of climate change and to avail of positive impacts. The National Adaptation Framework outlines a whole of government and society approach to climate adaptation. Under the Framework, a number of Government Departments will be required to prepare sectoral adaptation plans in relation to a priority area that they are responsible for. The Cork City Council Climate Change Adaptation Strategy 2019-2024 features a range of actions across a number of themes, including: local adaptation governance and business operations; infrastructure and built environment; land use and development; drainage, water and flood management; nature, natural resources and cultural infrastructure; citizen safety, health and wellbeing; and partnerships with other sectors and agencies. The main goals of this strategy are: To make Cork City as climate-resilient as possible, reducing the impacts of current and future climate change-related conditions and events; and To pro-actively engage with all citizens on the subject of climate action, such as climate change, climate change adaptation and climate change mitigation. The EPA’s (2020) Air Quality in Ireland 2019 identifies that: Air quality in Ireland is generally good however there are localised issues; Nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) from transport emissions is polluting urban areas; and Ireland was above World Health Organization air quality guideline value levels at 33 monitoring sites – mostly due to the burning of solid fuel within settlements across the country. With regard to solutions, the report identifies that: To tackle the problem of particulate matter, clean ways of heating homes and improve energy efficiency of homes can be progressed; and To reduce the impact of nitrogen dioxide, transport options in the Government’s Climate Action Plan can be implemented and transport choices can be considered by individuals.
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CAAS for Cork City Council
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