Pollution emissions from industry have fallen due to licensing of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a recent study has found.
The study, conducted by Trinity College Dublin, between 2001 and 2007, found that there were a broad range of pollution reductions in separate sectors – 22pc in the chemical sector, 28pc for the food and drink sector, 40pc for pharmaceuticals and 45pc for the power generation sector.
Lead researcher David Styles, Trinity College Dublin, commented: “What gets measured gets improved. Licensing has led to the measurement of key environmental performance parameters, and generated the evidence base required for any form of effective regulation.”
Annual emissions
The project analysed annual emissions data submitted to the EPA by licensed industrial installations in accordance with the requirements of Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) regulation.
The study found that whilst EU member states were given a 2007 deadline for full implementation of IPPC regulation, Ireland’s EPA had implemented similar regulation through its Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) licensing system since 1994.
The research was carried out in Trinity College Dublin under the environmental research centre programme, which is funded by the EPA as part of the National Development Plan 2007–2013.
