Case Studies Sustainable Development

Waste Disposal in Cork City  CCC manage waste 43,000+ houses  1t waste produced by each house pa  Collection + disposal costs €4.5m pa  2005: pay per bin introduced, while bags given for recyclables  50% decrease since 2005 in waste put out for collection  €1m reduction in bin tags  Bin collections became fortnightly  Kinsale Road landfill give extra 2 years  Cork City will have to use Rossmore landfill at Carrigtwohill soon, after Kinsale closes  Incineration will need to be considered

Reducing environmental impact of economic activities Kyoto Protocol, aims to reduce air pollution causing global warming Kyoto Protocol, aims to reduce air pollution causing global warming Agreement requires countries to cut emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases Agreement requires countries to cut emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases 141 countries approved to reduce emissions by 5.2% 141 countries approved to reduce emissions by 5.2% US has not ratified US has not ratified Ireland long way from reducing ghg emissions to 2012 target Ireland long way from reducing ghg emissions to 2012 target Our levels have increased 23% since 1990, 10% above allowed increase Our levels have increased 23% since 1990, 10% above allowed increase 2007: components of KP set out 2007: components of KP set out 1) Agreed limit beyond which CO2 emissions should not rise 2) Emission targets for all countries according to responsibility and development needs 3) Global Carbon Market and trading system 4) Focus on research and development, energy efficiency and adaptation

Mayo Gas Terminal Development Conflict between need to develop natural resources and protect safety of people in the resource development area. Conflict between need to develop natural resources and protect safety of people in the resource development area. Corrib gas field: 70km offshore from Mayo coast Corrib gas field: 70km offshore from Mayo coast About 20 year lifetime, supply 60% of gas needs About 20 year lifetime, supply 60% of gas needs Shell Statoil + Marathon investing €900 m in developing onshore gas terminal and pipeline Shell Statoil + Marathon investing €900 m in developing onshore gas terminal and pipeline Building terminal will create 500+ jobs and 50+ permanent jobs Building terminal will create 500+ jobs and 50+ permanent jobs Locals concerned that pipeline too close to homes and roads Locals concerned that pipeline too close to homes and roads Proposed pipeline only 70m from some houses, should be 750m Proposed pipeline only 70m from some houses, should be 750m Corrib Consortium refused to refine gas offshore Corrib Consortium refused to refine gas offshore Conflict over lack of money going to local community and lack of foresight of locals to exploiting a natural resource Conflict over lack of money going to local community and lack of foresight of locals to exploiting a natural resource 2005, 5 landowners jailed for blocking access to site for 90 days 2005, 5 landowners jailed for blocking access to site for 90 days Safety review of project carried out by an international team of inspectors and mediator appointed to reach agreement between locals and consortium Safety review of project carried out by an international team of inspectors and mediator appointed to reach agreement between locals and consortium 2006: Corrib agreed to re – route pipeline and gas terminal 2006: Corrib agreed to re – route pipeline and gas terminal Jan 2007: EPA announced it would grant a licence to the company based on 85 conditions, and in Feb said it was satisfied that terminal would not adversely affect health and environment Jan 2007: EPA announced it would grant a licence to the company based on 85 conditions, and in Feb said it was satisfied that terminal would not adversely affect health and environment

Deforestation in Amazon Brazilian Amazon contains 40% of world’s remaining tropical rainforest Brazilian Amazon contains 40% of world’s remaining tropical rainforest Important ‘Sink’ for CO2 Important ‘Sink’ for CO2 2001:Brazilian govt announced plans for Avanca Brasil 2001:Brazilian govt announced plans for Avanca Brasil US $40b plan to replace much of Amazon with 10,000km of roads, hydroelectrical dams, reservoirs, power lines, mines, gas and oilfields, canals, ports, logging concessions US $40b plan to replace much of Amazon with 10,000km of roads, hydroelectrical dams, reservoirs, power lines, mines, gas and oilfields, canals, ports, logging concessions Conflict: Environmental scientists predict plan will mean 42% of region will be deforested or degraded, less than 5% will survive in pristine condition, destruction could increase 25% pa, loss of rainforest could affect global warming Conflict: Environmental scientists predict plan will mean 42% of region will be deforested or degraded, less than 5% will survive in pristine condition, destruction could increase 25% pa, loss of rainforest could affect global warming Brazilian govt determined to develop its resources for its people and don’t want to listen to the Northern environmentalists Brazilian govt determined to develop its resources for its people and don’t want to listen to the Northern environmentalists Brazil’s economic situation means that it can’t afford to implement all of the developments. Brazil’s economic situation means that it can’t afford to implement all of the developments. International and public opinion has forced govt to submit programme to Environmental Impact Assessment International and public opinion has forced govt to submit programme to Environmental Impact Assessment