About the Pillar The Environmental Pillar of Social partnership was o cially created in February 2009, following an invitation

from An Taoiseach, Brian Cowen TD. It is comprised of 27 national environmental NGOs, who work together to represent the views of the Irish environmental sector. What does the Pillar do? It creates and promotes policies that advance sustainaibility. It provides a channel for government and the other social partners to engage with the environmental sector on policy matters. It provides an access point into government policy making at national, regional, and local levels. It provides a public pro le for the environmental sector on policy matters.

Our key areas of focus.

Climate Change Climate change and biodiversity loss, are the de ning challenges of our age. The Environmental Pillar is working to map a path to a sustainable future, which addresses not just decarbonisation but also energy security, economic competitiveness and social cohesion. Economy The Environmental Pillar is working with the other
Social Partners to explore how Ireland can position itself to prosper in a 21st century that will see a shift to a steady state economy. Initiatives which reduce energy use or which produce it from renewable resources must be prioritized.

Environmental Democracy?

Econom y

Decision-making is essential if a truly sustainable future is to be created. In this context, the full implementation of Agenda 21 and the Aarhus Convention is essential.

Environmental Democracy Public involvement in

Transport?

Water?

Biodiversity Our very existence, our quality of life and our economy depend on the health of our natural infrastructure. In order to protect biodiversity and to better manage the public services it provides, the Environmental Pillar is working with other Social Partners to ensure that biodiversity and ecosystem services considerations are integrated into all natural resource and land-use management (including agriculture and forestry); activities in the marine environment; and the way in which we try to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Waste reduction and better management of waste is vital to long term environmental, social and economic well-being. We need to break the strong link between economic development and waste generation. There are many opportunities for employmentand industry in this area. Transport We need to promote public transport through
low cost mechanisms, and the intensive promotion of cycling in urban areas. Taking freight of the roads onto rail and water is another essential part of a sustainable transport future. planning of land use, infrastructure and sustainable communities Visit our website requires the e ective engagement for more details www.environmentalpillar.ie of the public in these critical decision-making processes that a ect both their health and the environment. Involvement of the public at the earliest possible point in the full assessment of the impacts on the environment of projects, policies and programmes is essential. forestry, agriculture and drainage on water quality. Public involvement in water management is not just a legal requirement of the EU Water Framework Directive but essential if a new, sustainable water management path is to be taken.

Waste? Planning?
Climate change?

Environmental Pillar
OF SOCIAL PARTNERSHIP

Planning The need for proper

Biodiversity?

Contact Details:

Environmental Pillar of Social Partnership. Macro Building, 1 Green Street, Dublin 7 Tel: 01 878 0116 Email: info@environmentalpillar.ie Web: http://www.environmentalpillar.ie Michael Ewing. Coordinator: Email: michael@environmentalpillar.ie Tel: 071 9667373. Mobile: 086 8672153

Water We must reduce the impacts of domestic waste,

Environmental Pillar
OF SOCIAL PARTNERSHIP

Facing the challenges

The continuing success of Irish society depends fundamentally on the preservation of the overall productivity, health and long term sustainability of our environment. A healthy natural environment provides valuable ecosystem services that underpin and supply many of the most basic components of human welfare - such as healthy soils, ourishing biodiversity, ood protection, climatic regulation, clean water and clean air.
And yet we see the development of economic structures that have come to dominate all decision-making, and which are driving us to compete for continuing growth, based on an impossible exponential increase in the exploitation and destruction of limited natural resources.

Working

To

Find

Solutions!

Healthy Soils, ourishing Biodiversity, Clean Water, Clean Air.

Our challenge is to nd ways to reduce the strain on the ecosystems whilst allowing a healthy prosperity for all in society. The Environmental Pillar is leading the e orts within social partnership to protect the ecosystems and services upon which we all depend.

Our Members. An Taisce - Bat Conservation Ireland - BirdWatch Ireland - CELT (Centre for Environmental Living and Training) - Coastwatch - Coomhola Salmon Trust - Crann - ECO-UNESCO - FEASTA - Forest Friends - Friends of the Earth Gluaiseacht - GRIAN - Hedge Laying Association of Ireland - Irish Doctors Environmental Association - Irish Natural Forestry Foundation - Irish Peatland Conservation Council - Irish Seal Sanctuary - Irish Seed Savers Association - Irish Whale & Dolphin Group - Irish Wildlife Trust - Just Forests - Sonairte - Sustainable Ireland Cooperative (Cultivate) - Sustainable Projects Ireland (The Village) - The Organic Centre - VOICE - Zero Waste Alliance

Finding the Solutions

Our main areas of focus are Climate Change, Biodiversity, Water, Waste, Planning, Transport, Environmental Democracy, and the Economy.

Protecting the ecosystems upon which we depend

Environmental Pillar
OF SOCIAL PARTNERSHIP