Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013
941. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress since 2011 on the implementation of the EU's roadmap to a resource efficient Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38084/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe EU Roadmap to a Resource-Efficient Europe sets out medium and long-term objectives to achieve resource efficiency in the context of the Europe 2020 Strategy and its flagship initiative on a resource-efficient Europe. The Roadmap, which covers a wide range of areas across energy, transport, climate change, industry, commodities, agriculture, fisheries, biodiversity and regional development, sets milestones for 2020 illustrating what will be needed gradually to improve resource efficiency and sustainable growth. Each milestone indicates actions to be taken at all levels of society, including by Member States and at EU level, to commence the process in six main areas for key resources (ecosystem services; biodiversity; minerals and metals; water; air; land and soil; and marine resources) and for three key areas of economic value (food and drink; buildings; and mobility).
The European Commission is developing, in consultation with Member States and other stakeholders, a suite of indicators that will monitor and measure progress on resource efficiency. This will include the development of a headline indicator – “Resource Productivity” – to measure the Roadmap’s principal objective of improving economic performance while reducing pressure on natural resources. The EU 7th Environment Action Programme, agreed during the Irish Presidency, contains a priority objective to turn the EU into a resource-efficient, green and competitive low-carbon economy.
At national level, the drive for resource efficiency covers a number of sectors and areas of Ministerial responsibility and a range of plans and programmes are in place which will contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the Roadmap. Within my own area of responsibility, positive developments include the publication in 2012 of a number of important policy documents: Green Tenders – An Action Plan on Green Procurement; Our Sustainable Future – A Framework for Sustainable Development for Ireland; and A Resource Opportunity – Waste Management Policy in Ireland.
Resource efficiency is at the heart of Ireland’s well established and successful National Waste Prevention Programme (NWPP), which promotes resource efficiency and more sustainable production and consumption behaviours. In addition, the Environmental Protection Agency has funded a large number of projects in the area of waste and resource management under its Science, Technology, Research and Innovation for the Environment (STRIVE) Programme. Further information on the many initiatives under the NWPP and STRIVE projects and research is available on the EPA’s website - www.epa.ie.
