From Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
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Meeting climate targets requires a transformation in the way we produce and use goods. The transition away from fossil fuels and energy efficiency measures can only address 55% of our emissions. The remaining 45% comes from making things.
Therefore, making less or making with fewer resources - the essence of the circular economy - has a key role to play in climate action. Reducing the quantity of natural resources which we waste would also reduce other environmental pressures on the quality of our air, soils and water.
In a circular economy, waste and resource use are minimised, the value of products and materials is maintained for as long as possible through good design, durability and repair, and when a product has reached the end of its life, its parts are used again and again to create further useful products.
The transition to a circular economy means we must look at how materials and resources are used, how we design the products that households and businesses use, how we prevent waste generation and resource consumption and how we extend the productive life of all goods and products in our society and economy.
This transition could provide more access to better designed products, which can be shared, reused, repaired and remade. This in turn would provide new opportunities for employment across all skills levels.
The Programme for Government - Our Shared Future committed to a range of actions that support the transition to a circular economy. In September 2020, we published the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, further cementing the commitment to Ireland’s transition to a circular economy.
One of the first actions to be taken is the development of a high-level, whole of Government Circular Economy Strategy to set a course for Ireland to transition across all sectors and at all levels of Government toward circularity.
We have prepared a draft Circular Economy Strategy and are looking for input from interested parties, in line with Aarhus guidelines in respect of public engagement.
The closing date for submissions is 5.30pm 11 June 2021
Submissions should be sent by email to circulareconomy@decc.gov.ie or by post to:
Public Consultation on the Proposed Publication of the Circular Economy Strategy
Circular Economy Division,
Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
Newtown Road
Wexford
Y35 AP90
Public Consultation on the Proposed Publication of the Circular Economy Strategy
We are committed to engaging with stakeholders in a clear, open and transparent manner. Any person or organisation can make a submission in relation to this consultation. All submissions and feedback will be considered before the final version of the Circular Economy Strategy is published.
Please note that responses to this consultation are subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2014 (FOI), Access to Information on the Environment Regulations 2007-2014 (AIE) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
Please also note that the Department intends to publish the contents of all submissions received to this consultation on its website. The Department will redact personal data prior to publication. In responding to this consultation, parties should clearly indicate where their responses contain personal information, commercially sensitive information or confidential information which they would not wish to be released under FOI, AIE or otherwise published.
We would like to draw your attention to the Department's Data Protection Data Privacy Notice which is available on our website and explains how and when we collect personal data, why we do so and how we treat this information. It also explains your rights in relation to the collection of personal information and how you can exercise those rights.