Environmental, Economic and Social Consequences

An Irish bog

Peatlands, together with their unique collection of plants and animals, are a seriously endangered European habitat. Ireland is among the last countries in Europe where a wide range of peatlands still exist in their natural state. Peatlands originally covered 17% of the land surface of Ireland, a higher proportion than any other European country, with the exception of Finland. Today less than one quarter of the original peatland area remains in an intact condition. Conservationists predict that if exploitation continues on deeper peat of the midland raised bogs, these will be the first bogs to disappear in this century. Blanket bogs, especially in the West of Ireland, are also under increasing threat.

An Irish bog

An Irish bog

Peatlands, together with their unique collection of plants and animals, are a seriously endangered European habitat. Ireland is among the last countries in Europe where a wide range of peatlands still exist in their natural state. Peatlands originally covered 17% of the land surface of Ireland, a higher proportion than any other European country, with the exception of Finland. Today less than one quarter of the original peatland area remains in an intact condition. Conservationists predict that if exploitation continues on deeper peat of the midland raised bogs, these will be the first bogs to disappear in this century. Blanket bogs, especially in the West of Ireland, are also under increasing threat.

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Air Pollution

The battle between nature and humans is ongoing

Courtesy of stock.xchng

Air Pollution
Courtesy of stock.xchng

Air Pollution

The battle between nature and humans is ongoing

Courtesy of stock.xchng

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Conventional energy sources based on coal, oil and natural gas have been shown to be highly effective at contributing to economic progress, but at the same time damaging to the environment and to human health. The European Commission as well as the Irish government are keen to promote sustainable energy sources in an effort to promote sustainable, long-term development. Whilst economic assessment still tends to be the most important factor upon which particular energy resources are promoted and used, social and environmental goals are becoming increasingly important.

Regardless of whether the energy source is renewable or non-renewable, there are likely to be considerable environmental, economic and social consequences (both positive and negative) for favouring particular energies. For instance, the majority of greenhouse gas emissions come from burning non-renewable fossil fuels. Whilst oil production benefits some communities producing oil in terms of economic growth, in 2019 fossil fuel burning generated around 38 billion tonnes (38 gigatonnes) of CO₂ and additional air pollution (European Commission, 2020). By the end of 2013 alone, the burning of fossil fuels caused negative impacts of $4.9 trillion USD due to climate change and health problems (Edenhofer, 2015).

Similarly, in an Irish context the production of peat as a fuel source, and subsequent loss of peatlands, has considerable knock-on consequences for horticulture, bog ecology (e.g. bird watching, nature appreciation), loss of archaeological heritage (through the preservation properties of peat), hydrological and water quality concerns (water storage, filtering), and CO₂ storage. Considering the economic impacts of energy resources is therefore only one of the ways in which to effectively assess the impacts of such resources.