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Environment Technology Action Plan (ETAP)

What is Environmental Technology?
About ETAP
ETAP in Ireland
Objectives & Scope of the Irish ETAP Roadmap
Contact Information: Where to find more information
Useful Websites

 

What is Environmental Technology?


“Environmentally sound technologies protect the environment, are less polluting, use all resources in a more sustainable manner, recycle more of their wastes and products, and handle residual wastes in a more acceptable manner than the technologies for which they were substitutes. Environmentally sound technologies in the context of pollution are process and product technologies that generate low or no waste, for the prevention of pollution. They also cover end of the pipe technologies for treatment of pollution after it has been generated. Environmentally sound technologies are not just individual technologies, but total systems which include know-how, procedures, goods and services, and equipment as well as organisational and managerial procedures.”
                UN Commission on Sustainable Development  - Agenda 21 (Chapter 34)

Environmentally-friendly technologies can be found all around us.  Examples are biofuels, solar panels, wind turbines, recycling systems for waste or water, etc.  They are basically any technology that is designed to prevent or reduce the environmental impact of any stage of the life cycle of products and activities.   Promotion of new programmes that foster the development and take-up of new cost-effective and innovative environmental technologies offers opportunities that are good for business, reduce pressure on the environment, and can create new quality jobs. The Irish Government is encouraging stakeholders and the public to discover and share promising opportunities to make eco-innovation an everyday reality throughout Ireland just as the EU is doing throughout all of its Member States.

 

About ETAP


The EU Environmental Technology Action Plan (ETAP), which was adopted by the European Commission in January 2004, covers a spectrum of actions to promote eco-innovation and the take-up of environmental technologies.

It includes priority actions along several lines including:

  • promoting research and development,
  • mobilising funds,
  • helping to drive demand and improving market conditions.

The website of the European Union outlines what the European Commission is doing to stimulate the development and uptake of environmental technology. The main policy is the European Environmental Technology Action Plan, or ETAP for short. Further information on how the Plan was prepared, the Action Plan itself and what the Commission is doing to implement it is available on the Europa website (external link) .

  

ETAP in Ireland


The Department of Environment, Community and Local Government and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment represent Ireland on the Commission’s ETAP High Level Working Group along with officials from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Initial investigation into the level of ETAP related work in Ireland indicates that there is already a diverse range of activities being carried out by both the public and private sectors.  Good co-ordination between the EU and its Member States is already acknowledged as vital to the success of ETAP. 

In Ireland we have already taken some significant steps under ETAP to stimulate progress and the need to improve overall co-ordination of our national effort is an urgent priority. With that in mind, steps were taken to identify all the potential players, clarify what work is underway, identify the funding that may be available and where responsibility lies for the various Actions Points under ETAP.  The development of an Irish ETAP Roadmap was viewed as an important first step.

Prior to the National ETAP Roadmap being drawn up there was already a broad range of activities underway in Ireland that were either directly or indirectly complementary to the ETAP objectives.  In addition there is a strong desire to both increase and build upon this existing activity and to improve co-operation.  It is considered that the establishment of an ETAP Steering Group and the process of developing the ETAP Roadmap will stimulate progress.

In advancing ETAP in Ireland, steps will be taken to focus our activities in the specific environmental problem areas that are most pressing and that offer the greatest opportunities for the country.  Accordingly, and with a view to exploiting this focussed approach, it is intended that initially certain Action Points under ETAP should be actively pursued.  As a first step, it is important that information be collated on the main participants and their ongoing work.  As the process develops in Ireland, greater attention will be given to increasing the ETAP-type activities by, and improving the co-ordination among, these bodies and to the subsequent extension of this work beyond into the wider community of interested parties.


Objectives & Scope of the Irish ETAP Roadmap


The objective of the Irish Roadmap is to provide a high level perspective on existing eco-innovation activities in Ireland and to outline future opportunities.  It is intended to act as a focal point for stakeholders and interested parties and to provide opportunities for better co-ordination and mutual assistance.   With a view to improved competitiveness and economic efficiencies, priority will be given to identifying those projects that have the best potential to make the journey from the research and development stage to the market place and ultimate application.

Ideally, all opportunities that will arise under ETAP will be exploited but, from an environmental perspective, specific consideration will be given to projects that have the potential to address the three specific challenges identified in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) “State of the Environment Report 2004”, namely,

  • Eutrophication of surface waters,

  • Meeting our international commitments on air emissions,

  • Better management of waste.      


Contact Information: Where to find more information


The main public bodies currently involved in ETAP in Ireland are listed below. More information on each Body and their activities is set out in the Appendices to the Irish ETAP Roadmap and on the website for each body.


 

Useful websites:


National ETAP Roadmaps for EU Member States

National ETAP Roadmaps offer an outline view of the state of play in relation to environmental technologies in Member States; map ongoing activities under ETAP; establish a practical basis for the exchange of information, experience and good practice; and assist in the ongoing monitoring and reporting under ETAP (particularly with regard to the inter-relationship with the Lisbon Strategy). 

EU Member States National ETAP Roadmaps (external link)



POPA-CTDA: Policy pathways to promote the development and adoption of cleaner technologies.

The aim of POPA-CTDA is to assess the issues driving and barriers slowing the development and uptake of cleaner technologies across the energy, agricultural, transport and industrial sectors of the economy.

POPA-CTDA website (external link)

  
European Union LIFE Database

A searchable database of the over 2,000 innovative pilot projects funded by the EU financial instrument for the environment since 1992: includes case studies, reports and research.

European Union LIFE Database (external link)

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