Government Department reporting on 2020 procurement shows that there was a low level of inclusion of green criteria in Public Procurement.
This represents an opportunity to significantly increase the public spend on goods and services that include green criteria. The EPA will work with Government Departments to progress this work in 2022 and beyond.
Many Government Departments are currently working to address this by including green criteria in their procurement processes.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its first report on the use of Green Public Procurement by Government Departments. Under the Climate Action Plan, lead responsibility was assigned to the EPA to report on Government Department Green Public Procurement (GPP) activity annually, starting in 2020.
In response, the EPA has compiled the first report on GPP activity by Government Departments.
The report – which is for 2020 – shows that, of the total reported spend of over €322 million on contracts over €25,000, only 17% (approximately €53 million) included green criteria.
The reported spend is for Government Department contracts only, and excludes agencies affiliated to those Government Departments. The priority sectors for reporting by Government Departments were: Transport, Construction, Energy, Food and Catering Services, Cleaning Products and Services, Textiles IT Equipment and Paper.
Launching the report Ms Laura Burke, (EPA Director General), said: “The purchasing power of Ireland’s government sector has significant potential to reduce emissions and protect our environment while saving money over the full lifecycle of goods and services. Government commitment to green purchasing sends a powerful signal to the market that the Government requires goods, services and works that make the most positive contribution to our environment and can save money over their full lifecycle. It promotes innovation in the marketplace for goods and services with a reduced environmental impact. The low level of implementation of Green Public Procurement reported by Government Departments is a missed opportunity to purchase more resource-efficient, less polluting goods, services and works within the marketplace.”
The report sets out recommendations for Government Departments to ensure that they will be able to meet the 2023 requirement in the Programme for Government ‘Our Shared Future’ that all procurement using public funds will need to include green criteria.
The report ‘Green Public Procurement: Monitoring and Reporting by Government Departments, 2020 Reference Year’ is now available on the EPA website and presents an overview of the monitoring and reporting requirements of GPP in Government Departments, the process used to collate data, a summary of the findings and recommendations.
The report shows some progress by Departments in actively working to include Green Public Procurement in their processes, as reported in their 2020 Annual Reports. However, further work is needed to improve the use of and reporting of Green Public Procurement in 2022 and beyond. The EPA will work directly with Government Departments and other stakeholders, including the Office of Government Procurement, to share learnings and recommendations and to support training requirements to ensure the progression of this work. Both guidance and training for the public sector on Green Public Procurement are available from the EPA. For Further Information Contact: Emily Williamson, EPA Media Relations Office, Tel: 053-9170770 (24 hours) or emailmedia@epa.ie.
One of Ireland’s most widespread garden birds, the Jackdaw (Name in Irish – Cág), is a small dark grey crow with a lighter nape and neck side, which clearly contrasts with a blackish forehead. These birds have very sturdy legs and strong beaks; are highly intelligent and in nature are social, both foraging and roosting with other bird life.
Measuring 34–39 centimetres (13–15 in) in length, Jackdaws forage in large flocks during the winter months, most often in the company of other species of crows.
The common name for the Jackdaw comes from two separate words: ‘Jack’ meaning “rogue” as it is a well-known, they steal shiny objects in particular, and ‘daw’, which is an imitation of their vocal call.
Jackdaws feed on a wide variety of foods includes small vertebrates, carrion, other birds eggs given the opportunity, fruit, seeds and food scraps. Their nesting areas include abandoned ruins, coastal cliffs, chimneys and woodlands, where they build simple nests of sticks.
Mr Jack Daw, pictured above, however, has obviously got wind of the soft and resilient body moulding, memory, foam mattress. With that knowledge he spent some time, today, tearing to shreds, a sheet of tissue paper. No doubt attempting to ensure that wife would have no sharp twigs sticking into her undercarriage.
Note also, in this particular case the bird has unusual grey feather markings. Possibly he is the son of another Jackdaw, who sadly died last year, and who had also displayed quite an array of grey feathers.
‘The story of tissues’ claims top prize in the EPA’s ‘The Story of Your Stuff’ 2022.
A video exploring the environmental lifecycle and impact of tissues has won the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ‘The Story of Your Stuff’ 2022 competition. This year’s competition attracted over 200 entries from schools across the country, as well as the highest number of Irish language entries to date. The winning entry was created by Wong Cheuk Yin Cayden from St Columba’s College in Dublin, who claims the top prize of €500 for himself, along with €500 for his school.
The winning video brings together elements of digital animation, live action, and original scripting and voiceover. It examines the effects of tissue manufacturing on deforestation, water consumption, habitat destruction and human health, and signposts viewers to more environmentally friendly alternatives.
The entry ends with a strong reminder that taking small steps when it comes to everyday decisions can have a lasting, positive environmental impact.
Now it its sixth year, The Story of Your Stuff competition empowers young people by encouraging them to realise the influence they can have on their friends and family when it comes to making environmentally responsible consumer choices. With its focus on sustainability, waste management, climate action and environmental protection, the competition asks young people to think, talk and make small changes that can have far-reaching impacts.
Competition ambassador, citizen candidate-astronaut candidate and award-winning STEM advocate, Dr Norah Patten commented: “From tissues and wet wipes, to beef, circuit boards and much more besides, the topics selected by this year’s competition entrants demonstrate an inspiring amount of creativity and critical thinking skills among our young people. Given the ever-present urgency of the climate crisis, these are qualities to be nurtured. The Story of Your Stuff competition is a reminder of the important collective voice that young people have on climate issues. It is beholden on all of us to not just hear that voice – but to really listen to it.”
Dr Jonathan Derham of the EPA and chair of the judging panel, added: “We are once again heartened by the extent and depth of the response among students to this year’s ‘The Story of Your Stuff’ competition. This reflects the sincere commitment of Ireland’s young people to encouraging behaviour change and driving climate action. Moreover, it highlights how our young people view environmental issues in a way that is creative, proactive and solutions oriented. On behalf of the EPA, I would like to extend my congratulations to the winning students, and to all those who entered.” ‘The Story of Pens’ by Holly Walshe from Loreto College Foxrock, Co. Dublin won second prize and ‘The Story of Circuit Boards’ by Liam O’Sullivan, Thomas Shaughnessy, Michael Duggan & Lochlann Mechan from Portumna Community School, Co. Galway came third.
The prize winners for the climate topic and Irish-language awards were:
Climate topic prize: Hari Pranavam, Kimi Alcantara, Conall O’Brien and Raeem Siddiqui from Saint Eunans College, Co. Donegal for their entry, ‘The Story of Beef’
Irish-language prize: Ellie Ni Chonaill and Anna Ní Mhurchú from Gaelcholaiste Charraig Ui Leighin, Co Chorcaí for her entry, ‘Scéal Certíní’ which looks at wet wipes.
Concluding, Director of the UCD Earth Institute, Professor Tasman Crowe said: “It was a privilege to virtually connect with the shortlisted entrants of this year’s ‘The Story of Your Stuff’ competition. Their ingenuity and insight, as evidenced through their entries, bodes well for a future that demands creative thinkers to help solve pressing environmental issues. I hope the entrants will continue to question and challenge these issues, much as students from the UCD BSc in Sustainability whose videos were shown during the final event do, and I hope to see some of them in UCD in the future”
Concerns have been raised by public health officials, following a Cryptosporidium outbreak, within the Mid-West Region, latter which consists of counties Tipperary, Clare and Limerick.
Public health chiefs are urging the public to be vigilant around the washing their hands with soap and water, in their attempts to try to offset the risk of contracting this parasitic disease, following an increased recent outbreak here in the mid-west region.
Crypto lives in the gut of infected humans or animals. An infected person or animal sheds Crypto parasites in their poop, resulting in an infected person shedding 10,000,000 to 100,000,000 Crypto germs in one single bowel movement. Shedding of Crypto in poop begins when symptoms like diarrhoea begin and can last for weeks, after symptoms come to a halt. Swallowing as few as 10 Crypto germs can cause this infection.
The present announcement, confirmed by the Department of Public Health Mid-West, comes after it had managed a recent outbreak on a farm within the region.
In this case, alcohol hand sanitiser is NOT effective against Cryptosporidium, and washing hands with hot water and soap is the most effective form of hand hygiene.
With newly born Spring farm animals being petted, same incurs an increased risk of exposure to Cryptosporidium, especially among young children. Officials confirm that there were some 121 cases of Cryptosporidium recorded in the Mid-West region in the year 2021, which amounted to almost three times more, the number recorded the previous year (2020) and the highest infection rate yet recorded over the past 10 years.
Those employed working in agriculture are being asked to maintain regular hand-washing with hot water and soap, and also to test and treat their well water, in order to reduce the risk of any infection.
Local authority grant schemes for private wells in the Mid-West are readily available to well owners.
Ireland’s power generation and industrial emissions increase by 15% in 2021
In 2021, greenhouse gas emissions from Irish power generation and industrial companies – covered by the EU Emissions Trading System – increased by 15% (2 million tonnes).
Emissions increased by 21% from the electricity generation sector, due to increased electricity demand, less wind power availability and use of older plants including a coal fired plant.
The overall increase in industrial emissions is about 7%, with the cement industry emissions increasing by 17%.
Greenhouse gas emissions from aviation increased by 11% compared to 2020, which reflects some recovery from the impact of Covid-19.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as the Competent Authority in Ireland for the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), yesterday released its preliminary analysis of greenhouse gas emissions in 2021.
In Ireland, 105 major industrial and institutional sites were required to report their emissions for 2021 by 31 March 2022 under the Emissions Trading System. These include sites operating in the power generation, cement, lime, and oil refining sectors. Also included are large companies in sectors such as food & drink, pharmaceuticals and semi-conductors.
Emissions from Irish power generation and industrial companies increased by 15% (2 million tonnes) in 2021. This compares with an increase of approximately 9.1% across Europe, according to preliminary analysis by carbon analysts of the data released today by the EU Commission.
The increase in emissions is largely due to increased carbon intensity of Ireland’s electricity production in 2021. Several factors came together to compound this – a decrease in wind power availability, some relatively modern gas fired plants being offline and an increase in electricity demand. Older plants, including the coal-fired plant at Moneypoint, were used to ensure that power was available.
Ms Laura Burke, EPA Director General said: “Ireland’s Emissions Trading System sector delivered a decrease in emissions from 2017 to 2019, largely due to the higher level of renewables on the National Grid, and again in 2020 because of Covid-19. The increase we are seeing for 2021 sector is disappointing and is a reminder of the need for policies and decisions which support sustained emissions reductions in power generation and industrial emissions. The challenges faced in the power generation sector are in sharp focus at the moment. We must ensure that we are taking decisions now which recognise the urgency of the climate change challenge and that will deliver reductions in emissions”.
Aside from power generation, the increase in industrial emissions collectively is 7%.
Cement industries recorded a 17% increase overall;
Emissions from pharmachem industries increased by 3%.
Aviation emissions from flights within the European Economic Area (reported to Ireland by 31st March) increased by 11% compared to 2020, to 5.3 million tonnes. This is still much lower than the pre-pandemic levels of 12.8 million tonnes. Some restructuring of routes has taken place and the operators of the new routes may not be reporting to Ireland, but emissions data reflect that recovery of the sector was slow in 2021.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptRead More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
Recent Comments