A Look Back at 2013: Environmental Highlights and Challenges

A look back at 2013
Monday 16 December 2013

January
2013


Mountmellick
Community College

attended the Youth
Shadow Climate
talks - Qatar in
Brussels

The fight to ban Neonicontinoids
began in earnest


Scientific studies
published in 2011
linked neonicotinoids,
found in pesticides, to
the collapse of the bee
population.


A two year temporary
ban was eventually
passed on April 29th
and came into effect in
December 2013


February
2013


Protecting our Woodlands became a theme,
while Tullamores “King Oak” was up for the
European Tree of the Year


Mens Shed comes to
Portlaoise


March
2013

From Forrest to Furnace
LEAF
event
March
14th
2013
Andy Dunne - Laois Farm Forestry Growers Group,
Noel Gavigan - Irish Bio-Energy Association,
Mr Thomas Cosby speaking about his choice to
invest in wood energy for Cosby Hall
Damien Nee from Green Energy

The wind debate began ......


April
2013


All short listed for the Green Awards

Abbeyleix
Tidy
Towns

Aos Sí
Marketing

Communergy


LEAF
event
April
9th
2013


LAOIS HERITAGE PLAN 2013 –
2018 DRAFT
for Public Consultation April-May
2013

Drive to get Natural Environment
on the National Lottery funding
criteria


‘natural environment’ recognised as
a worthy cause for Lottery funds


May
2013


Well done to Communergy at
ECOUNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards
1st in
climate
category

Overall
senior
winners


Irish Forestry, Woodland & Bio Energy Show
Fri 10 & Sat 11 May, Stradbally Hall Estate, Co Laois.


Training for individuals and
communities across Co. Laois
to develop their own Local
Biodiversity Action Plan

Launched May 29th 2013


June
2013


Abbeyleix Bog
in the
Bio Blitz

Coillte sell off threats began in
March leading to a national
“Walk in the Woods”
on June 9th


There were two walks in
Laois
Stradbally and Glenbarrow


June 25th 2013 Barack Obama delivered a
speech about climate change
addressing the young people he stated:

”It was important for me to speak
directly to your generation,
because the decisions that we
make now and in the years
ahead
will have a profound impact on
the world that all of you inherit.”


“I refuse to condemn your
generation and future
generations to a planet
thatʼs beyond ﬁxing”


Laois County
Council
brought
anyone who
signed up to
Cloughjordan
:)


We had a
fabulous
summer!


A bug
Hotel
opened
in Laois


................. at
Shanahoe
National
School

July
2013


Stop Climate Chaos
“In order for a Climate
Bill to have any

it must
contain targets
credibility

for 2050, as well
having an

independent
committee provide
the oversight”


The Open Government Partnership
(OGP) .... aims to secure concrete
commitments from governments to
promote transparency ........


........ empower citizens, ﬁght
corruption, and harness
new technologies to
strengthen governance.


LEAF hit 200 facebook fans
in July 2013


August
2013


September
2013


Apple pressing in Ballyﬁn


Global Warming '95% Certain', Say Scientists

What
more
is
there
to
say???


October
2013


Brussels


November
2013


Creating a People’s Charter on Renewable Energy
Saturday, November 9th - 11.00 to 5.00
Killeshin Hotel, Dublin Road, Portlaoise
Programme
10.30

Registration & refreshments

11.00

Welcome and Introductions. Niall Crowley, Theresa Carter

11.10

How shall we make progress? Chris Chapman
Defining what we want to achieve and steps to do so

11.40

Production of Renewable Energy
What needs to happen? What are our priorities?
Round table discussions will be focused with experts in particular forms of renewable energy production.

12.50

Lunch - survey on consultation for energy export policy

13.30

Distribution of Renewable Energy (including equality issues)
Round table discussions will be focused with experts in particular forms of energy distribution, ownership,
poverty, co-ops etc.

14.40

Tea & Coffee break

15.00

Keynote by Duncan Stewart

15.15

Energy Conservation
Round table discussions will be focused on energy conservation. The key to any
energy strategy must be reducing waste. How?

16.25

Next steps – what needs to happen to create a better future from here ?

Based on feedback throughout the day and Powerdown
workshops held
throughout Laois we expect geographically connected groups for short discussions,
information sharing and planning.
17.00

Close

Experts
Our experts are people who know lots about given technologies and systems from wind power
to co-ops. Duncan Stewart, Conor McEvoy, Noel Gavigan, Michael Malone, Triona Casey, Brian
Hurley, Ossian Smyth, Aedin McLoughlin, Emer O’Siochru, Robert Staiger, Dominic Dunne, Ian
Lumley, Tony Lyons, Erik Vanoosten, Tom Woolley, Rick McGrath, Graham Barnes.
Thank you very much to all of them for their time, energy, positivity and enthusiasm.
Over arching considerations
Throughout this process we must keep in mind our four base assumptions 1.

Communities must be involved in planning

2.

Renewable energy needs to be developed to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels

3.

Fuel poverty needs to be addressed, guided by the principles of equality

4.

Climate change must be addressed

Hopefully this is the start of a nationwide process where the end result will be a people’s
charter to deliver to our government - showing what the people want and giving a roadmap for
how progress can be made - collaboratively.


Laois/
Oﬀaly
branch of
IWT
formed


Training on the Aarhus Convention in Dublin

Text


Work with the
environmental
pillar

Three environmental representatives on Laois boards:
Brian Maher - Environment and planning SPC
Chris Uys - Laois Partnership Company
Derek Banim - County Development Board
Thanks to out going representatives:
Caroline Goucher
Roisin Hogge


What we’ve been discussing with the
Environmental Pillar



•Ash dieback



•Ash dieback
•Ban on GM



•Ash dieback
•Ban on GM
•Climate Change targets



•Ash dieback
•Ban on GM
•Coillte



•Ash dieback
•Ban on GM
•Coillte
•Air quality



•Ash dieback
•Ban on GM
•Coillte
•Air quality
•Climate & Clean Air
coalition



•Ash dieback
•Ban on GM
•Coillte
•Air quality
coalition
•Badgers



•Ash dieback
•Ban on GM
•Coillte
•Air quality
coalition
•Badgers
•Bioenergy



•Ash dieback
•Ban on GM
•Coillte
•Air quality
coalition
•Badgers
•Bioenergy
•Fracking



•Ash dieback
•Ban on GM
•Coillte
•Air quality
coalition
•Badgers
•Bioenergy
•Fracking
•Aquaculture


•Ash dieback
•Ban on GM
•Coillte
•Air quality
coalition
•Badgers
•Bioenergy
•Fracking
•Aquaculture
•Climate Bill


•Ash dieback
•Ban on GM
•Coillte
•Air quality
coalition
•Badgers
•Bioenergy
•Fracking
•Aquaculture
•Climate Bill

•Green economy &
sustainable employment


•Ash dieback
•Ban on GM
•Coillte
•Air quality
coalition
•Badgers
•Bioenergy
•Fracking
•Aquaculture
•Climate Bill

•Green economy &
•Hen harriers


•Ash dieback
•Ban on GM
•Coillte
•Air quality
coalition
•Badgers
•Bioenergy
•Fracking
•Aquaculture
•Climate Bill

•Green economy &
•Hen harriers
•Pollution & waste


•Ash dieback
•Ban on GM
•Coillte
•Air quality
coalition
•Badgers
•Bioenergy
•Fracking
•Aquaculture
•Climate Bill

•Green economy &
•Hen harriers
•Local Government reform


•Ash dieback
•Ban on GM
•Coillte
•Air quality
coalition
•Badgers
•Bioenergy
•Fracking
•Aquaculture
•Climate Bill

•Green economy &
•Hen harriers
•Food harvest 2020


•Ash dieback
•Ban on GM
•Coillte
•Air quality
coalition
•Badgers
•Bioenergy
•Fracking
•Aquaculture
•Climate Bill

•Green economy &
•Hen harriers
•The Aarhus Convention


•Ash dieback
•Ban on GM
•Coillte
•Air quality
coalition
•Badgers
•Bioenergy
•Fracking
•Aquaculture
•Climate Bill

•Green economy &
•Hen harriers
•Reject abolition of the
Seanad


•Ash dieback
•Ban on GM
•Coillte
•Air quality
coalition
•Badgers
•Bioenergy
•Fracking
•Aquaculture
•Climate Bill

•Green economy &
•Hen harriers
Seanad
•Environmental protection
in the constitution


•Ash dieback
•Ban on GM
•Coillte
•Air quality
coalition
•Badgers
•Bioenergy
•Fracking
•Aquaculture
•Climate Bill

•Green economy &
•Hen harriers
Seanad
•Environmental protection
in the constitution
•Habitats directive

Brussels October 2013
RENEWABLE ENERGY POLICY UPDATE
Mr Robert LORENTZ
Policy Officer
Unit " Renewables and CCS policy"
Directorate-General for Energy (ENER)
• Impact of wind energy on peatlands and potential of wind projects to include
peatland restoration.
• Biofuels
• 2030 targets
• Over-arching approach
• Feed in tarrifs role of EU
• Openess of compensation for engagement with renewable energy Projects
• Definition of renewable energy – incineration?
• Cross compliance with other Directives
o Wood as fuel as an example vs forestry for biodiversity
o Health and heritage issues
o Fracking
• Biomass is not carbon neutral?
• Anaerobic Digestion targets


Mr Joe HENNON
Spokesperson for Environment, Commissioner POTOČNIK's portfolio
•
•
•

•
•
•

•

•

•

7th Environmental Action Programme
Enforcement especially peat and fish farms
Biodiversity targets 2020 where are we?
o Ireland’s progress and incentives to move it forward
o Devolution and funding of work at the local level
Rules re transporting non-native species
Ecocide status of the movement in Europe
Recognition of rights of other species, ecosystems and the biosphere in its own
right
Update on bees (the new Canary) – half-way measure. Stockpiles of seed
o Other chemicals
o Control of movement of bee species
o Genetic protection
GM What is the current status of EU on this.
o Insects
o Forestry
Directive on Fracking


FISHING OPPORTUNITIES AND CFP REFORMS
Mr Frederik SCHUTYSER
Inspector – Fisheries
Unit "Fisheries conservation and control – Atlantic and outermost regions"
Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (MARE)
• Fully documented fisheries are essential
o 1.2% fish trips observed
• Monitoring, enforcement and management – acceptable levels?
o Bottom up monitoring
o Cross-cutting eg Biodiversity
o Legal status of guidelines?
• BIM controls funding for FLAGs who rubber stamp BIM decisions
• Only 6 FLAGs therefoe not local. Members selected by BIM
• No oversight on funding
• EMFF decisions made before monitoring committee gets to see proposals
o Weighted in favour of big producers at all levels
o No NGO representation on key boards
• Social and employment improvements cannot happen without full representation of all sectors
• No socio-economic data from Ireland to Commission
• PUBLIC PARTICIPATION!!! (Coastal Zone Management)
• Marine Strategy Framework Directive
• Marine Proptected Areas Update
• Clarify Commissions role in the 6 mile limit since the CFP
•

Cumulative effects of seismic testing


RURAL DEVELOPMENT 2014-2020: TOOLS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT?
Mr Krzysztof SULIMA
Policy Officer - Horizontal Coordinator
Unit " Consistency of rural development"
Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI)
• Realignment – is commission concerned re local govt reform
• Participation
• No new Agri Environment Scheme in 2014 3600 in limbo from AEOS3
Yet Ireland will draw down same funding. 9k/farmer
• Bad management and monitoring REPS and AEOS Schemes
• Food Harvest 2020 impacts –
• Aquaculture
• Scale of reductions and focus of the funding available
• Public money for public goods enforcement and public monitoring
• What funding for forestry through RDP
• Ex-ante evaluation of RDP draft programme


IMPLEMENTATION OF EU LAW
Mr Paul SPEIGHT, Head of Unit
Mrs Silvija AILE, Case Handler – Infringements
Mr Udo VALENTIN, Policy Officer – Structural Funds
Unit "Enforcement, Cohesion Policy & European Semester"
Directorate-General for Environment (ENV)
• Complaints procedure
• Link between EU Semester and Environmental Law
• Enforcement and Freshwater Pearl Mussel
• Status of Candidate SACs
• Waste Directive –
o diversion from landfill into recycling of hazardous waste – health and safety and environmental
impacts
o waste permits and licences and lack of enforcement of contracts
o Support from the Commission
• Natura 2000 and nature law enforcement
o Dunes
o Marine sites a
 Aquaculture
 Harvesting from wild
o Peatlands
• Water Framework Directive
o Irish Water
o Septic Tanks Case
• Review of EIA Directive
• Aarhus Convention
• Illegal Seal Kills

Introduction to the European Parliament – roles and powers
Francis JACOBS, Head of European Parliament Office in Ireland
EP involvement in EU environmental policy; inter institutional relations
Sarah BLAU, EP Codecision and Conciliation Unit
Overview of EP Environment Committee Agenda, Climate Change and
implementation of EU environmental law
Chris DAVIES MEP (ALDE/UK Lib Dem party)
Dan JORGENSEN MEP (S&D/Danish Social Democratiet party) TBC
Waste policy, recycling, chemicals policy
Axel SINGHOFEN, Advisor to Green Group TBC
Meeting with Irish MEPs (Timing TBC)
Available MEPs being confirmed by EP office
Meeting with Mr Tom Hanney, Deputy Permanent Representation, Mr
Pat Fenton and Ms Bríd Doherty


What to do?
2014


energy???


Climate


•March against Monsanto May 24th 2014
•The Peopleʼs Charter on Renewable Energy
•Landscape planning
•Climate Change
•LA21 funding for awards
•Status of LEAF
•Submissions or not
•Planning day in January 2014

A Look Back at 2013: Environmental Highlights and Challenges

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