TO BE PUBLISHED July 2024
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This conference will assess next steps for climate change adaptation and resilience in Ireland.
It will be a timely opportunity to discuss key issues with implementation of a new National Adaptation Framework (NAF), following the recent consultation from DECC on the draft framework in January.
Sessions in the agenda will bringing out latest thinking on concerns raised, looking at challenges in Ireland’s approach to adaptation, including:
- sectoral priorities: identifying clear plans across sectors, and allocating support and resources effectively to implement adaptation measures
- financial support: long-term policy signals to enable substantial investment in sustainability and resilience, and key financial support mechanisms for industries already at risk climate change effects
- local-level strategies: next steps for driving community involvement and moving towards a whole-of-society approach with clear, achievable goals
- monitoring: integrating robust mechanisms for monitoring progress and evaluating the effectiveness of adaptation
There will be discussion on what is needed to ensure that both developing Ireland’s climate resilience and a just transition are embedded in policy and planning processes, as emphasised in Ireland’s Climate Change Assessment (ICCA) commissioned by the Environmental Protection Agency, published in January.
Delegates will also consider opportunities presented by the NAF in the delivery of new high quality jobs and the potential growth of new green sectors.
Those attending will assess what is needed to enable and encourage cross-sectoral collaboration, including best practice for sharing knowledge and information, priorities for strengthening institutional capacity, and the role of local authorities in implementing adaptation measures.
It is also an opportunity to explore nature-based approaches to adaptation in Ireland, with a focus on biodiversity and nature restoration, and developing strategies for coastal management. Discussion will consider approaches to ensure that adaptation efforts address equity and key areas of vulnerability disparities.
Further sessions will examine issues for Ireland within the wider European approach to climate adaptation and resilience, with the European Environment Agency’s recent Climate Risk Assessment finding that Europe is not prepared for rapidly growing climate risks.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- Ireland’s current ability to adapt: considering findings from ICCA - adaptation planning - risk management - assessing adaptation fitness - communicating benefits of transitioning to a low carbon economy
- immediate priorities: developing Ireland’s climate resilience - implementing local adaptation plans - flood risk management and responses to extreme weather events - key financial support mechanisms
- key sectors: developing adaptation plans across agriculture, health, urban dwellings, tourism and sport, and financial services - assessing opportunities for high quality jobs and growth of new green sectors
- just resilience and adaptation: ensuring equity and fairness in adaptation approaches - protecting flood-risk areas and coastal communities - consulting with vulnerable groups - guidance for policymakers
- data and evaluation: fostering and funding a whole-of-society approach to sharing knowledge and information - addressing gaps in data - ensuring effective evaluation of approaches to learn from best practice
- Biodiversity Net Gain: assessing long-term goals for nature restoration - utilising natural resources for carbon capture and flood defence - transitioning to restoration and heritage practices
- policy: priorities for a new NAF - clarity on long-term policy signals - meeting emissions ceilings - staying within carbon budgets - scaling up and resourcing systematic approaches to climate adaptation - assessing the EU’s approach and findings of Europe’s climate risk assessment - lessons learned from Ireland’s first adaptation plans
The conference will be an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who are due to attend from DAFM; Met Éireann; NPWS; DHLGH; DAERA, NI; and DfE, NI.
