Cormac Gebruers Deputy IMERC Director Ireland’s Maritime & Energy Imperatives

“To become a research and commercial cluster of world standing, by realising Ireland’s potential in the global maritime and energy markets of tomorrow”. The Irish Maritime & Energy Resource Cluster - IMERC

A Network of Maritime and Energy focussed companies, researchers & organisations What is IMERC? A growing physical campus of research & commercial infrastructure

Opportunity: 1. An appropriate or favourable time or occasion. 2. A situation or condition favourable for attainment of a goal. 3. A good position, chance, or prospect, as for advancement or success. Opportunity and Imperative… Imperative: 1.Absolutely necessary or required; unavoidable…

Ireland needs new, indigenous economic sectors to aid recovery Ireland derives only 1.2% GDP from the maritime domain: – UK 5% – Denmark 11% – Norway 20% “Harnessing our Ocean Wealth, An integrated Marine plan for Ireland” sets a new target of 2.4% of GDP by 2030 We may not be able to rely on our neighbours to dig us out… Should we be even more ambitious? Ireland’s Economic Challenge

Energy Security “Ireland is one of the highest per capita users of oil in the world. Our energy needs burn about 200,000 barrels of oil a day. We generate half of our electricity from natural gas.” Vincent Ryan “Ireland sleepwalking into an energy Crisis” Ireland is an island and very dependent on transport…

“There is enough food in the world to feed everyone adequately; the problem is distribution.” World Health Organisation 1996 “Forget oil, the new global crisis is food” FinancialPost January 2008 “The organization that loans money to developing nations [World Bank] said its global food price index was up 36% in March from levels a year earlier.” CNNMoney April 2011 "There will not be enough water available on current croplands to produce food for the expected 9 billion population in 2050" Stockholm International Water Institute 2012 Food Security

“Increased levels of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide act to enhance the natural greenhouse effect and accelerate irreversible changes in the climate.” EPA website “[Global Warming] in Ireland has mirrored what's happening globally. The country has just been lagging a decade or two behind (probably due to its surrounding seas acting as a buffer).” Prof John Sweeney, NUIG “The extent of climate change effects on individual regions will vary over time and with the ability of different societal and environmental systems to mitigate or adapt to change.” National Geographic website Climate Change

It is increasingly hard to (scientifically) refute that we are facing growing global challenges… How will Ireland choose to meet these challenges? With what level of focus, commitment and urgency will we tackle them? Will we consider them as “opportunities” for Ireland Inc. or as “Imperatives” necessary to secure our future..? What do You Think?

Realise Ireland’s potential in the global maritime and energy markets, to help Irish Economic Recovery - IMERC Support those working in the areas of Marine, Energy and Environmental science - ERI Work toward Energy Security for ourselves and our neighbours Work toward Food Security for ourselves and those we can help globally Doing what we can to help stabilise climate change Opportunities or Imperatives?

Ireland’s Maritime domain holds the key to meeting our economic, energy and food imperatives… Maritime; The Thread that Binds…