Background
The F ilte Ireland Environmental Action Plan (EAP) 20072009 was a strategic framework developed by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in partnership with local authorities, NGOs and community groups. It aimed to address pressing environmental challenges facing the Republic of Ireland at the turn of the decade, including climate change, biodiversity loss, waste management, and water quality.
F ilte Irish for future reflects the plans forwardlooking ambition: to secure a healthier environment for the next generation while meeting Irelands commitments under European Union directives and the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.
Key Objectives
The 20072009 EAP set out six overarching objectives:
- Climate Change Mitigation Reduce greenhousegas emissions by 20% relative to 1990 levels by 2020.
- Adaptation to Climate Impacts Increase resilience of vulnerable sectors such as agriculture and coastal communities.
- Biodiversity Conservation Protect and restore habitats, aiming for a 10% increase in protected areas.
- Water Quality Improvement Achieve compliance with EU Water Framework Directive standards for all river basins.
- Waste Reduction and Recycling Reach a 30% recycling rate for municipal waste and cut landfill disposal by half.
- Public Awareness & Participation Embed environmental thinking into everyday decisions through education and community projects.
Main Strategies and Actions
1. Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
The plan promoted retrofitting of public buildings, incentives for home insulation, and a rapid rollout of renewable technologies such as wind, solar and biomass. Grants were made available for smallscale community energy projects, particularly in rural counties where grid connections were limited.
2. Sustainable Transport
A network of cycle lanes and pedestrian corridors was expanded in Dublin, Cork and Galway. The government introduced a green vehicle tax exemption and increased investment in public transport, targeting a 10% modal shift away from private cars.
3. Water Management
Implementation of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) principles drove joint actions among the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Inland Fisheries Ireland and local authorities. Key actions included:
- Upgrading wastewater treatment plants to meet EU standards.
- Restoring riparian zones to reduce nutrient runoff.
- Introducing river basin management plans for the Shannon, Liffey and River Bann catchments.
4. Biodiversity & Habitat Restoration
Funding was allocated to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) for the creation of new Natura 2000 sites. Special emphasis was placed on peatland restoration, coastal dune protection, and the reintroduction of native species such as the redsattled lapwing.
5. Waste Management
The Zero Waste targets were pursued through:
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes for packaging.
- Community composting hubs and household food waste collections.
- Ban on singleuse plastic bags and a levy on disposable coffee cups.
6. Education and Community Engagement
Schools received curriculum modules on climate science, while local EcoAction groups received seed funding to run beach cleanups, treeplanting drives and citizenscience water monitoring programmes.
Outcomes and Lessons Learned
By the end of 2009, several measurable outcomes could be attributed to the plan:
- Renewable electricity capacity grew from 2,500MW to 3,800MW (52% increase).
- National recycling rate rose to 27% close to the 30% target.
- Four new Natura 2000 sites covering 120km were designated.
- All major wastewater treatment plants achieved EU compliance, significantly improving river water quality.
Key lessons include the importance of crosssector coordination, the need for stable longterm funding, and the value of early public engagement to build lasting behavioural change.
Future Directions
The 20072009 plan laid the groundwork for subsequent strategies such as the National Climate Action Plan 20212030 and the Irish Biodiversity Strategy 20202030. Building on the successes and shortfalls of the 20072009 period, future policy is likely to focus on:
- Deep decarbonisation of energy, transport and industry.
- Naturebased solutions for flood protection and carbon sequestration.
- Circulareconomy initiatives to further cut waste.
- Enhanced climateresilience planning for rural and coastal communities.
Continued citizen participation, backed by transparent data portals and robust monitoring, will be essential to keep Ireland on track for its 2030 and 2050 environmental commitments.
