DUBLIN - Ireland has made important progress in protecting the environment, but these advances are at risk unless strategic projects, infrastructure and activities with potentially significant environmental and climate impacts are rigorously assessed, planned and regulated in compliance with national and international law, a UN expert* said today.
"Advances in environmental protections are evident, though these may be lost due to regressive proposals and prioritising investments without considering environmental and climate impacts, even transboundary," said Astrid Puentes Riaño, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment in a statement at the end of her visit to Ireland.
Achievements include improved climate and environmental regulations, phasing out of coal and the promotion of cleaner fuels, Puentes Riaño highlighted.
"Economic revenue must not come at the expense of protecting the environment and human rights, especially with severe climate change, biodiversity loss and toxic pollution harms already impacting people, as recent floods in Dublin evidence," she said.
The Irish Government has announced that the climate target of a 50 per cent emissions reduction by 2030 will not be achieved, despite being legally binding. Similarly, other decisions such as the EU nitrates derogation, proposals for new liquefied gas infrastructure and lifting the Dublin Airport passenger cap, are yet to include adequate, comprehensive and scientifically based assessments of environmental and climate impacts. In addition to increasing risk, contradicting policies and the exclusion of climate and environmental considerations create uncertainty across all sectors.
National courts and the International Court of Justice have concluded that new projects and planning processes must fully consider these impacts. "Urgency cannot justify bypassing Ireland's obligation to undertake comprehensive and integral environmental and risk assessments when policies or projects might have significant impacts," the Special Rapporteur said.
Consistent and coherent policies and legislation were identified as a pending priority by multiple stakeholders during meetings with the Special Rapporteur. "Expressly recognising the right to a healthy environment in national legal frameworks would aid Ireland in filling gaps in their legislation," Puentes Riaño said.
Concerning proposals to "simplify" environmental regulations, including judicial review processes were also identified during the UN expert visit. She underscored that access to justice is a human right, part of the Aarhus Convention and essential for environmental governance.
"Rather than adopting regressive amendments Ireland should strengthen enforcement, monitoring capacity and meaningful access to information, public participation and access to justice, and support the work of environmental defenders while strengthening the rule of law and democracy," the expert said.
The Special Rapporteur also noted that while some consultation processes are in place, they are not substantially reflected in decision-making. She encouraged authorities to advance meaningful participation that genuinely integrates rightsholders perspectives, especially those of youth, children, women, Travellers and people living in poverty.
"Ireland stands at an important moment to reinforce environmental protection while strengthening human rights and democracy," Puentes Riaño said. "Ireland can and should use its role as President of the Council of the EU later this year to influence European leadership to protect people and the environment."
The Special Rapporteur will present a full report to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2027.
