ENFO, the environmental information service, has established itself as a model of best practice with an international reputation.
Progress made since the 1992 Earth Summit:
• The 1997 policy document, Sustainable Development: A Strategy for Ireland, has had a significant influence on environment policy and on the environmental dimension of sectoral policies.
• Comprehensive policy statements have been made - and are being implemented - in key areas such as climate change and waste management.
• River basin management projects are being established to promote a comprehensive approach to management of rivers, lakes, estuaries, coastal waters.
• A national biodiversity plan, to protect wildlife habitats under threat, and a national heritage plan were both adopted earlier this year.
• Substantial progress has been made in establishing formal networks of protected areas for biodiversity with in excess of 1 million hectares now covered by designation.
• The principle of sustainable development is firmly enshrined in land-use planning through the 2000 Planning Act, which requires planning authorities to have regard to it.
• A modern legislative framework for environmental protection has been put in place, ranging from the 1996 Waste Management Act to the 2000 Wildlife (Amendment) Act.
• A "strong and widely respected" Environmental Protection Agency has been established and an integrated pollution control licensing system put in place to curb emissions from industry.
• A national sustainable development partnership - Comhar - has been in operation for over three years, working to advance the cause of sustainable development by dialogue.
• Environmental issues now have greater prominence in the National Development Plan 2000-06 and the associated operational programmes.