In 2002, ‘Making Ireland's Development Sustainable’ (Note 19) was produced by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government for the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development. The report examines progress made in the ten years since the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit. It also sets out broad policy orientations going forward:
a broad emphasis on eco-efficiency as a means of achieving both environmental and economic objectives;
the need to engage the interest and attention of individuals in this agenda;
implementation of the National Climate Change Strategy (2000);
implementation of the National Biodiversity and National Heritage Plans (2002);
implementation of the revised National Anti-Poverty Strategy;
pressing ahead with the catchment-based approach to water quality, including through investment in waste water infrastructure and additional regulations where necessary;
development of a national strategy to meet the requirements of the Göteborg Protocol and the related EU Directive concerning trans-boundary air emissions;
implementing the policy approaches to waste management set out in Government policy statements; and
implementation of a National Spatial Strategy, addressing among other things issues relating to settlement patterns.
In terms of horizontal approaches, the Report highlights the importance of:
working with the market using economic and fiscal measures and producer responsibility initiatives;
good quality regulation in the interests of the environment, implementation of the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive from 2004; and
promotion of Local Agenda 21, including through the County and City Development Board process, research and indicators.
Finally, the Report highlights that Ireland has adopted measures to honour the UNCED commitments on finance for developing countries, by giving a commitment to increase its aid allocation to reach the UN target of 0.7% of GNP by 2007. A review of Sustainable Development Strategies at EU level was completed in June 2006.
The objective and proposed interventions of Priority 2, in particular, of the BMW Regional OP are consistent with the policy orientations of Ireland’s sustainable development strategy. Specific commitments regarding sustainable development as a horizontal principle are included in Chapter 7 of this OP.
Note 19 Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government (2002) Making Ireland’s Development Sustainable – Review, Assessment and Future Action http://www.environ.ie/DOEI/DOEIPol.nsf/wvNavView/Sustainable+Development:+A+Strategy+for+Ireland?OpenDocument&Lang
