Renewable and non-renewable resources Renewable and non-renewable resources

The use of energy resources in Ireland and Europe The use of energy resources in Ireland and Europe

The impact of fossil fuels The impact of fossil fuels

Environmental pollution at a national and a global Environmental pollution at a national and a global scale scale

Sustainable economic development Sustainable economic development

Conflict between environmental and economic Conflict between environmental and economic interests interests

5 5 Environmental impact of economic Environmental impact of economic developmentdevelopment5 5 Environmental impact of economic Environmental impact of economic developmentdevelopment

Energy resources

We consume large amounts of energy in the way we live and work today

Energy is produced from a number of different resources

Sources include: Fossil fuels, nuclear power, natural resources such as wind, water and the sun

Renewable resources are natural resources that can be replaced

Renewable resources include wind, water, timber, sunlight and fish

Non-renewable resources are resources that cannot be replaced once they have been used

Non-renewable resources include oil, natural gas, coal, iron ore, copper and peat

The production of energy has a major impact on the environment – global warming

Chapter 5: Environmental Impact of Economic Development

Ireland’s energy resourcesIreland’s energy resources

Ireland depends on fossil fuels for energy – 96 per cent of all energy used in Ireland in 2008

Ireland has very limited supplies of fossil fuels In 2008, imported oil and gas accounted for 81 per cent of

Ireland’s energy supply Ireland’s non-renewable resources: peat and natural gas Ireland’s renewable resources: solar, wind and water

power

Chapter 5: Environmental Impact of Economic Development

The EU’s energy resources

Fossil fuels are the main sources of energy Oil and gas have replaced coal as the main

sources of energy The EU supplies 50 per cent of energy

resources it consumes The other 50 per cent are imported Currently imports 82 per cent of oil used

and 57 per cent of natural gas The EU depends heavily on Russia for oil and

natural gas

Chapter 5: Environmental Impact of Economic Development

Nuclear power

The world's first commercial nuclear power station opened in the

UK in 1956

By April 2011, there were 437 nuclear reactors operating in the

world

Nuclear power stations currently supply: 6 per cent of the world’s

energy and 13 per cent of the world’s electricity

Environmental concerns over the disposal of nuclear waste and a

series of nuclear disasters threaten the future of nuclear power

Chapter 5: Environmental Impact of Economic Development

Renewable energy

Currently, the world relies heavily on fossil fuels Fossil fuels account for more than 85 per cent of the world’s primary

energy consumption Non-renewable – supplies of fossil fuels will eventually run out The burning of fossil fuels contributes to global warming Renewable energy resources include hydropower (water power), solar

power, wind energy, biofuels and geothermal energy Hydropower: power that is generated by the force of moving water,

currently accounts for almost 20 per cent of the world’s electricity Wind energy: a clean and renewable source of power, supplies 2.5 per

cent of the world’s electricity Biofuels: a biofuel is a type of fuel derived from biomass, provided 2.7

per cent of the world’s transport fuel in 2010

Chapter 5: Environmental Impact of Economic Development

Wind farms in Ireland

Ireland has ideal conditions for generating wind power – large unpopulated areas that are exposed to regular winds

The development of wind power in Ireland started in the early 1990s By 2010, there were 110 on-shore wind energy projects and one off-

shore wind farm in Ireland Wind power accounted for 14 per cent of electricity production in

Ireland in 2010 Arklow Bank Wind Park: first off-shore wind farm in Ireland

Chapter 5: Environmental Impact of Economic Development

Environmental impact of energy consumption

The production and consumption of vast amounts of energy has a negative impact on the environment

Acid rain: Fossil fuels emit sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the

air, these gases then mix with water vapor in the air to form an acid

Acid rain can have harmful effects on forests, soils, freshwaters (lakes and rivers), buildings and human health

Smog: A type of air pollution, occurs when large quantities of smoke

mix with fog Smog can have harmful effects on human health

Chapter 5: Environmental Impact of Economic Development

Global warming

Global warming: the rise in the average temperature of the Earth

Caused by the build up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

The greenhouse effect: gases let sunlight through to the earth but trap the heat and warm the temperature

Causes of greenhouse gases: fossil fuels, industrialisation, population growth and deforestation

Impacts of global warming: alter sea levels, modify precipitation patterns, change agricultural production, and increase health problems

Chapter 5: Environmental Impact of Economic Development

The Kyoto Protocol

An international protocol that aims to reduce global warming Originates from an international conference on global warming held at Kyoto,

Japan in 1997 Participating countries aimed to reduce their collective greenhouse gas

emissions by 5.2 per cent by 2012 Agreed to reduce the burning of fossil fuels, increase their use of alternative

fuels and reduce deforestation The EU was given a target of an 8 per cent reduction in emissions by 2012 Some countries are currently failing to meet their commitment to cut

greenhouse gas emissions

Chapter 5: Environmental Impact of Economic Development

Sustainable economic development

Takes a long-term view of development Definition: development that meets the needs of the present

without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

To achieve sustainable development, environmental needs must be taken into account when planning economic activities

EIA: used to assess the possible positive or negative impact that a proposed project would have on the environment

EIS: results of an EIA are documented in an EIS, lists the possible impacts that the proposed development would have

EPA: set up in 1993 to protect Ireland’s environment, set up in 1993 to protect Ireland’s environment

Chapter 5: Environmental Impact of Economic Development

Often conflict between the need to develop economic activities and the need to protect the environment

Conflict of interest can lead to disputes between developers and communities

The Mayo Gas terminal: a gas field discovered off the coast of Mayo in 1996

Corrib Gas Project: plan to construct a pipeline to transport gas from the field to an onshore processing terminal in Bellanaboy

Objections: Health and safety issues, danger of air and water pollution, exploitation of Ireland’s gas resource

Support: will supply 60 per cent of Ireland’s gas needs for a period of 20 years, short-term employment for over 500 workers, 50 permanent jobs

Chapter 5: Environmental Impact of Economic Development

Economic development versus environmental Economic development versus environmental protectionprotection