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Invitation to submit views on the development of Ireland’s first statutory National Climate Change Adaptation Framework (NAF) Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government - March 2016 Table of Contents 1. Towards a statutory National Climate Change Adaptation Framework .............................. 2 1.1 The Climate Change Challenge ................................................................................... 2 1.2 What is Climate Change Adaptation? .......................................................................... 3 1.3 Planned Adaptation ..................................................................................................... 3 1.4 Climate Change Impacts ............................................................................................. 4 1.5 What is the National Adaptation Framework (NAF)? .................................................... 5 1.6 Policy and Legislative Basis for Developing a National Adaptation Framework (NAF) . 7 1.7 Economic considerations ............................................................................................. 8 2. Purpose of this document.................................................................................................. 9 2.1 Responding to this Document .................................................................................... 10 Annex 1: Proposed outline of National Adaptation Framework (NAF) ................................. 12 Annex 2: Policy Background ............................................................................................... 17 International Context ....................................................................................................... 17 EU context ....................................................................................................................... 18 Other developments ........................................................................................................ 21 Annex 3: Other Useful Resources on Adaptation ................................................................ 25 National Resources ......................................................................................................... 25 International Resources ................................................................................................... 27 1|Page 1. Towards a statutory National Climate Change Adaptation Framework 1.1 The Climate Change Challenge 2015 was a pivotal year in shaping the global response to the challenge of man-made climate change. The Paris Agreement commits 196 countries to the mitigation goal of limiting global temperature rise to well below 2℃. According to the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5)1 of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), to achieve this 2°C objective, global greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced by 40-70% by 2050 compared to 2010 and be zero or below in 2100. The Paris Agreement also includes a long-term adaptation goal alongside the goal for mitigation which refers to enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change. Ensuring an adequate adaptation response in the context of the temperature goal explicitly links adaptation to the mitigation goal of limiting global temperature rise to well below 2℃. This connection makes it clear that, if mitigation activities succeed in limiting the rise in global temperature, less adaptation will be needed to deal with the consequences of climate change. The policy responses to climate change are therefore two-fold: 1. mitigation of emissions of the greenhouse gases (GHGs) that are driving climate change, and 2. adaptation to the positive and negative impacts of climate change To address the mitigation challenge Ireland will pursue and aim to meet its national, EU and international greenhouse gas mitigation commitments through the adoption of a series of 5 yearly statutory National Mitigation Plans (NMP). The NMPs will track the implementation of measures already underway and identify additional measures in the longer term to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and progress the overall national low carbon transition agenda to 2050. Work on developing Ireland’s first National Mitigation Plan, led by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government in conjunction other key Government departments, is well underway and currently being developed in tandem with Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment Processes. Separate 1 http://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/index.shtml 2|Page consultations on the National Mitigation Plan were undertaken last year. A similar long term process, operating in parallel and informed by the mitigation process, will cover the process of adapting Ireland to the impacts of climate change. The first step in this process will be the development of Ireland’s first statutory National Climate Change Adaptation Framework/National Adaptation Framework (NAF). 1.2 What is Climate Change Adaptation? Ireland is vulnerable to the adverse effects of global climate change, in terms of increase in average temperature, changes in precipitation patterns, weather extremes (storms and flooding, sea surges, flash floods) and sea-level rise. Climate change will have diverse and wide ranging impacts on the environment, society, economic sectors and natural resources. These include managed and natural ecosystems, water resources, agriculture and food security, human health, coastal infrastructures and marine environment. These impacts are expected to increase over the coming decades. Effective actions are needed to reduce vulnerabilities to the negative impacts of climate change, take advantages of opportunities and to increase social, economic and environmental resilience. Adaptation2 can be defined as 'adjustment to natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities'. In other words, adaptation seeks to protect people, buildings, infrastructure, businesses and ecosystems against the negative impacts of climate change but also to build resilience to climate change, allowing society to take advantage of any opportunities that it might bring. These actions are taken in parallel with, and in addition ongoing and planned changes in the relevant sectors. 1.3 Planned Adaptation Planned adaptation aims to take measures to counter current or expected climatic impacts within the context of ongoing and expected societal change. It is a deliberate decision taken due to an awareness that conditions have changed (reactive) or are about to change (anticipatory) and that action is required to return to, maintain, or achieve a desired state. 2 Section 1,Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 “adaptation” means any adjustment to— (a)Any system operated by human beings, including an economic, agricultural or technological system, or (b) any naturally occurring system, including an ecosystem, that is intended to counteract the effects (whether actual or anticipated) of climatic stimuli, prevent or moderate environmental damage resulting from climate change or confer environmental benefits 3|Page As the impacts of climate change vary by region, adaptation requires locally specific, placebased responses, which address not only climate impacts but also integrate coherently with local social, economic and ecological systems. As a result, high-level adaptation policy is typically developed by central government but local differences in social and cultural norms, physical environment, land use and economics make adaptation a crucially important consideration for regional and local policymakers, elected representatives, businesses and the general public. 1.4 Climate Change Impacts The impacts of climate change are being observed in Ireland, Europe and the World on natural and human systems on all continents and across the oceans. The projections of future climate changes are stark: oceans will continue to warm, sea-level rise will continue during this century. Studies have shown that the intensity and frequency of extreme events are changing and will change further due to climate change (IPCC 20143). The character and severity of impacts from climate extremes depends not only on the extremes themselves but also on exposure and vulnerability to these extremes. These changes are projected to further impact on food production systems, water resources, critical services (energy, communications, health, and education), coastal infrastructure, urban centres, resulting in increased displacement of people, societal stress, loss of land and other assets. For Ireland, climate change impacts are projected to increase in the coming decades and could include the following: sea level rise; more intense storms and rainfall events; increased likelihood and magnitude of river and coastal flooding; water shortages in summer ; increased risk of new pests and diseases adverse impacts on water quality; and changes in distribution and phenology (the timing of lifecycle events) of plant and animal species on land and in the oceans. 3 http://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/wg2/ 4|Page Key sectoral impacts Agriculture: main impacts will result from increased levels of atmospheric CO2, changes in air and soil temperatures, changes in rainfall patterns and extreme events. Marine environment: projected changes in sea level, coastal flooding and erosion, and physicochemical changes in the marine environment will have wide-ranging implications for the marine and fisheries sector in Ireland. Biodiversity: Increasing temperatures will impact upon the geographical range and phenology of species native to Ireland. Projected shifts in climate, temperature and precipitation, will result in the increased occurrence of invasive species and competitive pressures for Ireland's native species. Coastal zones: Coastal erosion and flooding currently pose a serious risk to Ireland's coastal areas and this is particularly the case as Ireland's major cities are located on the coast. Critical infrastructure (water, energy, communications, transport, emergency services) are at significant risk from sea level rise, increasing temperatures, changing rainfall patterns and the increased occurrence of extreme weather events. Built environment; temperature change, precipitation, sea level rise and extreme events will impact on location, performance and durability of buildings Water management: changing temperature, precipitation and extreme events will pose significant risks to water management and exacerbate existing pressures in terms of water supply, quality and flooding. Human health and wellbeing: increasing temperatures will likely result in the increased incidence of heat-related mortality. Increases in extreme events will have significant impacts on psychological health and wellbeing. Source: Climate Ireland and SOK14 (EPA, 2009) 1.5 What is the National Adaptation Framework (NAF)? The NAF will set out Ireland’s first statutory strategy for the application of adaptation measures in different Government sectors, including the local authority sector to reduce the vulnerability of the State to the negative effects of climate change but also to avail of any positive effects that may occur. A primary objective of the NAF will be to bring a clear and strong focus to both the challenges and the opportunities of transitioning to a climate resilient 4 http://www.epa.ie/pubs/reports/research/climate/ccrpreport1.html 5|Page future, and the importance of a positively focussed and cost-effective national transition agenda. The NAF will build on the substantial work already carried out under the existing National Climate Change Adaptation Framework (NCCAF, 2012) and ensure that climate adaptation in Ireland is brought forward in line with EU and international best practise. In the interests of an inclusive, informed and transparent process, the views of the public are now being sought in relation to the development of the NAF. A draft of the NAF itself will be the subject of a later and separate consultation process before submission to Government for approval. The existing Framework (2012) was the first step for Ireland in developing a comprehensive national policy position to address the anticipated impacts of climate change through a structured programme of action on adaptation. The current Framework requires the development and implementation of sectoral and local adaptation plans which will form part of the national response to the impacts of climate change. Sectors have been requested to prepare their sectoral plans according to a risk based adaptation management approach. The five key steps in this approach are: 1. Building the adaptation team – defining the scope of work. 2. Assessing the adaptation baseline. 3. Assessing future climate risk. 4. Identifying, assessing and prioritising adaptation options. 5. Monitoring and Review. The on-going implementation of the existing framework is currently being coordinated by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (DECLG) through a National Adaptation Steering Committee. The steering committee is chaired by DECLG and includes membership from the relevant sectors identified in the NCCAF as well as EPA, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, with the local government sector represented through the County and City Management Association and the regional assemblies. The current Framework has succeeded in building the evidence base and in filling many of the knowledge and research gaps required for effective national adaptation. It has also increased capacity within the sectors to begin to tackle climate change adaptation. The current work being carried out with respect to developing sectoral plans represents a crucial input to the development of the new NAF and will further inform the subsequent 6|Page development of sectoral adaptation plans in accordance with the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015. 1.6 Policy and Legislative Basis for Developing a National Adaptation Framework (NAF) In line with the National Policy Position on Climate Action and Low Carbon Development5 and the recent international climate agreement in Paris, the development of this new NAF is being guided by a long-term vision of a climate resilient Ireland. This will be based on: the promotion of sustainable development; relevant scientific or technical advice; relevant research on effective measures for mitigation and adaptation; existing and future obligations of the State under the law of the EU and the evolution of climate policy within the EU and at the UNFCCC; regard to the objective of the Paris Agreement to hold the increase in the global average temperature to “well below 2℃ above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5℃; and current EU policy on climate adaptation and the likely evolution of that policy in the future. The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 provides for the preparation by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and approval by Government of plans covering climate change mitigation and adaptation with the purpose of pursuing the transition to a low carbon, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable economy by 2050. Section 5 of the 2015 Act provides that the Minister shall make and submit to Government for approval a “national adaptation framework” not later than 24 months after enactment (i.e. not later than 10 December 2017). The Minister must review the framework not less than once every five years thereafter. The NAF shall specify the national strategy for the application of adaptation measures in different sectors and by a local authority in its administrative area for the purpose of reducing the vulnerability of the State to the negative effects of climate change and availing of positive 5 http://www.environ.ie/environment/climate-change/policy/climate-action-and-low-carbon-developmentnational-policy-position 7|Page effects of climate change that may occur. The Act further provides that the Minister must consult with the Climate Change Advisory Council when developing the NAF and that before submitting a framework to the Government for approval must also consult with the public and any interested parties inviting submissions on a draft NAF. The Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) was established under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015. A key function of the CCAC is to provide independent advice, and to make recommendations, to Government and Ministers in relation to the low carbon transition process and the adaptation agenda. The Act sets out a clear role for the CCAC in the development of the NCCAF in terms of advising and making recommendations to relevant Ministers and Government. 1.7 Economic considerations Economic considerations will play a crucial roIe in Ireland’s transition to a low carbon, climate resilient economy. There are already substantial costs to the exchequer, the insurance industry, private businesses, communities and individuals from the impacts of weather extremes such as flooding and storms. Work is on-going in respect of trying to understand better the projected costs of climate change impacts and the costs of adapting to future climate change. For example, it is estimated that the severe winter storms of 2013-14 caused €157 million in insurance claims (source: Insurance Ireland) and a further €114 million in damage to public infrastructure, including clean-up costs and remediation work (NDFEM, 2014). Another important sector at risk from climate change in Ireland is agriculture, where costs have been estimated at between €1-2 billion per year by 2050 (Flood and Sweeney, 2014). Costs for the Irish economy in other sectors and from other types of impacts remain to be quantified. At the European level, the minimum cost of not adapting to climate change for the EU as a whole has been estimated at €100 billion a year by 2020, rising to €250 billion in 2050 (EEA 2012). These costs will of course depend on a number of factors – not least the success of global efforts to limit greenhouse gas emissions over the coming years and decades. The 8|Page costs of future climate impacts will also depend crucially on the effectiveness of adaptation efforts taken in the intervening period. Climate change may also create a number of economic opportunities. Some studies suggest (Sweeney et al, 2013) that there may be opportunities for a country such as Ireland from climate change. These could include opportunities for: 1. agriculture in short to medium term; 2. tourism (extension of season); and 3. industry (I.T and big data-storage) Maintaining competitiveness will be a key consideration in developing the NAF, with policies set out in the NAF ideally being a support to sustainable economic growth. This should instil confidence in industry to invest in new technologies to bring about the necessary scale of change required, with the general public also playing their part in this change. Government is aware of the need for early, cost-effective, cost-efficient action and the need to take advantage of environmentally sustainable economic opportunities both in Ireland and further afield. Ireland’s national policy position on Climate Action and Low Carbon Development requires that objectives are achieved at the least cost to the national economy and that measurers adopted to achieve these objectives are cost-effective, and do not impose an unreasonable burden on the exchequer. The NAF will therefore be developed in a flexible manner to allow for future adaptive measures that are cost-effective, no-regret where possible and that can be mainstreamed into existing policies and governance structures. 2. Purpose of this document The purpose of this document is to invite views from all interested stakeholders and the general public on the development of a new National Adaptation Framework (NAF). This early consultation process in the development cycle of the NAF will provide valuable input in developing the NAF. The document also outlines the national, EU and international context for the development of the NAF as well to outline the process through which the NAF will be developed including a proposed structure for the framework itself. The draft NAF will be published for public consultation in due course and in accordance with the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015. The NAF must be completed and submitted to Government not later than 10 December 2017. 9|Page It is important to note that this document is not a draft NAF and does not discuss sectoral or local adaptation measures. The process of developing statutory sectoral adaptation plans is a matter for the relevant sectors concerned and will begin after approval of the NAF by Government. More information from a sectoral perspective can be found in the relevant links in Annex 3 – Other Useful Resources on Adaptation. Local authorities also have an important role to play in Ireland’s response to climate adaptation. Building resilience to the impacts of the climate change at local level for communities and businesses can be achieved in an effective manner if it is integrated into existing planning frameworks and policies under the remit of the local government sector. In order to achieve this, a significant challenge facing local authorities is developing the capacity within their organisations to plan for and adapt to the impacts of climate change. Local level adaptation measures will be identified in Local Adaptation Strategies prepared by the relevant local authority and implemented through inclusion in relevant plans and policies under the local authority’s remit. The NAF will give a strategic overview of adaptation policy at local level, including governance structures, adaptation tools, improving the knowledge base at local level and capacity building initiatives. 2.1 Responding to this Document Written submissions from members of the public and any interested party on the contents of this document and on the NAF development process may be forwarded by email to: [email protected] by Friday 20th May 2016 Submissions may also be sent by post to: National Adaptation Framework Public Consultation Climate Policy Section Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government Custom House Dublin 1 Email submissions will receive an automatic response confirming receipt. Please note that all submissions received will be published on the Department’s website. Please also note that all submissions and comments submitted to the Department for this purpose are subject to release under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2014 and the European Communities 10 | P a g e (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 2007- 2014. Confidential information should therefore be clearly indicated and, if possible, placed in a separate annex to the main submission. Reasons to have the information treated as confidential must be clearly stated - i.e. simply marking information as confidential will not, of itself be sufficient and may not remove that material from the scope of FOI or AIE. Annex 1 provides an outline of a proposed approach as to how the NAF might be developed Annex 2 provides additional material on the policy context for climate adaptation at national, EU and international level as well as material on national research projects relevant to the preparation of the NAF. Annex 3 provides a list of useful resources on Climate Change Adaptation 11 | P a g e Annex 1: Proposed outline of National Adaptation Framework (NAF) This section contains an outline of the proposed approach that will be taken in relation to the development of the NAF under the following headings: - purpose; - strategic vision; - aims and objectives; - approach; - co-ordination; - consultation; and - research. Purpose: The purpose of the NAF is to develop a national approach to the assessment, prioritisation and management of climate change risk for Ireland with a view to guiding the implementation of adaptation at sectoral and local level. The NAF must be long-term in its approach with a built in review process. This will allow for evaluation of progress approximately every 5 years-in keeping with the continued development of the climate change evidence base and actions on mitigation and in line with the requirements of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015. Strategic vision: The strategic vision for the NAF should be to develop a ‘climate resilient Ireland’. It should be a high level vision of the capacity of Ireland’s social, economic and environmental systems to cope with climate change by responding or reorganising in ways that maintain their function, identity and structure, while also developing capacity to adapt, learn and transform. This will be based on an understanding of resilience to current climate variability and extremes, and pathways to resilience for sustainable development. The delivery of a climate resilient Ireland must take place within an adaptive risk management approach that can be implemented and sustained. The assumptions in the NAF must be based on the international/EU target of a 1.5-2℃ rise in temperature at a minimum and should also be able to consider the implication of a 3-4℃ temperature rise. We need an understanding of how resilient Ireland is to observed climate change and how it is positioned to respond to future climate change. 12 | P a g e Objectives: The key objectives for the NAF are set out in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015. These are to: enhance adaptive capacity; strengthen the resilience of social, economic and environmental systems to current and future climate change; reduce vulnerability to climate change; and take advantage of any opportunities that might arise from climate change. The implementation of these high level objectives will take place at sectoral and local levels where they will be refined to develop a series of adaptation actions. Approach: An adaptive risk management approach is recommended, which is consistent with international best practice. This approach is also being promoted for sectoral and local level adaptation planning and decision making. Taking a common approach to all adaptation decision making can aid understanding, learning, comparability, monitoring, evaluation and reporting. The five key steps to the adaptive management approach are: 1. Building the adaptation team – defining the scope of work; 2. Assessing the adaptation baseline; 3. Assessing future climate risk; 4. Identifying, assessing and prioritising adaptation options; 5. Monitoring and Review The document should build on the scientific work to date and the previous National Climate Change Adaptation Framework (2012). This should begin with a stocktaking of work to date and identification of existing knowledge and data gaps. The NAF should give sufficient consideration to the opportunities that may arise from climate change in some sectors to ensure that these can be built on. Policies, plans and programmes: The development of the NAF must take account of a range of policies, plans and 13 | P a g e programmes. The Framework will also have to consider any existing and future international obligations on Ireland in relation to adaptation. It will have to account for any obligations under the UNFCCC and the more recent Paris Agreement. It should have regard for the EU Climate Adaptation Strategy and the indicators contained in the EU Adaptation Scoreboard. It will have to take account of nationally relevant policy and legislation such as the Sustainable Development Goals, WFD, Habitats Directive, SEA, Spatial Planning, etc. The overall approach should be able to account for findings from existing sectoral adaptation plans e.g. OPW, CFRAMS6, etc. Mitigation: The Paris Agreement includes a long-term adaptation goal alongside the goal for mitigation. This connection makes it clear that, if mitigation activities succeed in limiting the rise in global temperature, less adaptation will be needed to deal with the consequences of climate change. Accordingly, the development of the NAF must be aware of on-going mitigation actions to limit temperature increases, recognising that this would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change. Implementation of adaptation actions: The key objectives of the plan must be implemented through activities at sectoral, regional and local level aimed at: enhancing adaptive capacity including this means at the sectoral and local level and how can it be achieved strengthening the resilience of social, economic and environmental systems to current and future climate change including identifying how resilient these systems are to current and future climate variability, and what steps must be taken to achieve resilience reducing vulnerability to climate change: How vulnerable are systems to current and future climate change 6 taking advantage of any opportunities that might arise from climate change catchment flood risk and management 14 | P a g e Finance and economic considerations: The Framework should consider the economic framework that will exist in respect of costs, benefits and cross-sectoral interactions The Framework should also attempt to identify potential funding sources for adaptation options Mainstreaming: The integration of climate change adaptation policies into other national, sectoral and local level policies, plans and programmes is recognised as a key policy approach to implementing adaptation. The NAF must begin the process of identifying opportunities to integrate climate change adaptation across all relevant policy areas. Capacity Building: Implementation of the NAF at sectoral and local levels should be supported by appropriate capacity building and training. This will include the sustained development and support of the web based information platform “Climate Ireland’. This should also include the development of networks of experts, practitioners, and decision makers. Cross cutting issues: The Framework will need to give direction on cross cutting issues, for example, flooding, emergency responses, invasive species, phenological changes, etc. Monitoring and evaluation: In order to monitor the implementation and progress of the NAF, an agreed framework and set of appropriate indicators must be included. The purpose of these indicators is to track the progress of the plan over time. The indicators will provide a means of monitoring and evaluating adaptation objectives and associated actions. They will also assist with international and national reporting requirements and the statutory review process required by the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015. Such a set of indicators should be linked to sectoral and local level decision making. The direction for these indicators should be included in the NAF. A plan for monitoring and evaluation must also be included in the NAF that meets international reporting obligations and allows for review and revision over time. 15 | P a g e International dimension of climate change: The NAF should be able to refer to the possible impacts on Ireland from climate change impacts experienced abroad. Such external impacts may have consequences for food security, conflict, humanitarian aid, international supply chains or migration that could affect Ireland. Co-ordination: The Framework should consider how best to ensure that relevant sectors coordinate on their respective plans given the fragmented responsibilities that occur across sectors; e.g. emergency planning, water, marine, biodiversity. This might require strengthening of existing governance bodies (e.g national adaptation steering group) or setting up new bodies. Consultation: The development of the NAF should be part of an extensive and wide reaching consultation process that includes the public, research community, practitioners etc., early in the development process. This should also include transboundary discussions. Research and filling knowledge gaps: The NAF should be able to identify knowledge gaps and recommend how they are filled. 16 | P a g e Annex 2: Policy Background International Context United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Ireland is a Party to both the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol, which together provide the international legal framework for addressing climate change at a global level. The ultimate objective of the Convention, as set out in Article 2, is the stabilisation of global greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. Paris Agreement 2015 was an important year for climate adaptation at the international level. The Paris Agreement includes a long-term adaptation goal alongside the goal for mitigation. The Agreement’s goal of “enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change, with a view to contributing to sustainable development and ensuring an adequate adaptation response in the context of the temperature goal” explicitly links adaptation to the mitigation goal of limiting global temperature rise to well below 2℃. This connection makes it clear that, if mitigation activities succeed in limiting the rise in global temperature, less adaptation will be needed to deal with the consequences of climate change. The agreement also puts adaptation on an equal level with climate mitigation within the UNFCCC process. Through “cycles of action” on adaptation that are parallel to the cycles for mitigation, the Agreement will also stimulate and accelerate increasingly effective adaptation action by parties to the convention over time. Every five years, countries will be required to review and increase the ambition of their climate plans, which will include commitments on adaptation. The Paris Agreement also requests parties to engage in adaptation planning processes (i.e. developing National adaptation frameworks/strategies) and the implementation of adaptation actions. 17 | P a g e International Development Ireland’s policy for International Development, “One World, One Future” and Ireland’s Foreign Policy, “Global Island” prioritises action against climate change for the poorest people in developing countries, in particular the least developed countries. Irish Aid’s work recognises the importance of community based adaptation to climate change programming. Irish Aid has a local level and people-centred focus for interventions. It is this focus that legitimises development policy based on evidence acquired through learning linked to local experience and case studies. Irish Aid has developed the Climate Change and Development Learning Platform (www.climatelearningplatform.org) in collaboration with the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), to support Irish Aid Key Partner Countries and organisations to integrate climate change and climate risk management into development programmes and planning. In 2014, Ireland contributed €34 million in support of climate finance for developing countries mainly for adaptation in sub-Saharan Africa. Climate Finance also includes support provided to the International Institute for Environment and Development, the World Resources Institute, the Least Developed Countries Fund, the Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice and the Least Developed Countries Fund – Expert Group (LEG). Irish Aid contributes to the Least Developed Countries – Expert Group (LEG) and the Least Developed Countries Fund, for the design of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) in the least developed Countries. Ireland has been an active partner through its 66 international missions in support EU Climate Diplomacy with particular focus on Missions in developing countries and prioritising adaptation. The Foreign Affairs Council endorsed the Climate Diplomacy Action Plan at its meeting in January 2015 in preparation for the Paris climate conference in December 2015. The European External Action Service, the European Commission and Members States all work together to implement a strategic, coherent and cohesive climate diplomacy plan through 2015. EU context EU Climate Adaptation Strategy The EU strategy on adaptation to climate change (2013) aims to making Europe more climate-resilient by taking a coherent approach aimed at complementing the activities of MS. It supports action by promoting: 18 | P a g e Action by Member States: The European Commission have encouraged all EU member states to adopt comprehensive adaptation strategies (20 including Ireland now have strategies in place). They have also promoted adaptation in urban areas through the Covenant of Mayors(Mayor’s Adapt) Better informed decision making: The European Commission have been looked at addressing knowledge gaps on adaptation and have developed a European climate adaptation platform Climate Adapt. Climate-proofing common EU action: The European Commission have mainstreamed adaptation into a number of their key policies including CAP, CFP and cohesion policy. Progress on adaptation across the MS is being monitored and evaluated by instruments such as the UNFCCC National Communications, Mechanism for Monitoring and Reporting (MMR) and the EU Adaptation Preparedness Scoreboard. Key factors influencing adaptation at EU level A study of national adaptation policy processes by the European Environment Agency (2014) identified a number of issues that are key to effective implementation of climate adaptation policies: Public and policy awareness of the need for adaptation There is a growing awareness of the importance of adaptation among EU policymakers and the general public. Climate adaptation has reached the national political agenda of many member states. Adaptation action in EU member states has been prompted by various 'triggers', including extreme weather events, EU climate and environment policies, estimates for damage costs, and the UNFCCC processes. Adaptation planning process and lessons learnt at member state level Twenty member states have adopted adaptation strategies that outline their national adaptation planning process and priorities. They are often operationalized by using adaptation action plans, which define specific priorities and schedule them for implementation. Coordination of adaptation efforts Adaptation to climate change is a cross-cutting topic that concerns all sectors of society and 19 | P a g e requires action at multiple levels from national governments to local actors. That is, both horizontal and vertical co-ordination. In the EU, setting up governance bodies are common ways to coordinate adaptation action across sectors and levels of governance. MS find that knowledge exchange, coordination of stakeholders and assignment of responsibilities can support coordination of adaptation action but also find that these activities can also present challenges. Stakeholder involvement Member states have involved multiple stakeholders in planning their adaptation policy processes, most commonly by consulting with scientists and researchers. Non-government institutions and the general public were also often involved in the consultation process. MS emphasize the importance of transparent, inclusive and well-informed stakeholder involvement processes. Implementation of adaptation Priority sectors for adaptation implementation in the EU are currently water, agriculture, forestry, human health, spatial planning, urban planning, coastal areas, energy, built environment, tourism, biodiversity, DRR, transport, insurance, industry, civil protection, mountain areas, marine and fisheries. Providing information (e.g. on adaptation tools, education, guidelines) is the most frequently reported policy instrument at member state level, followed by mainstreaming or integration into priority policies, via programmes, plans, legislation and financial support (e.g. subsidies, taxes). Member states indicate a wide range of financing instruments, from project-based public support to explicit budgetary allocations covering adaptation actions and insurance mechanisms. Transnational/regional cooperation Transnational cooperation in adaptation to climate change has increased with the recognition of the importance of adaptation as a cross-cutting policy area. Water management has broad experience of transnational cooperation in the EU and has been the first to take on board adaptation to climate change, e.g. transboundary river basins or catchment management. Other relevant transboundary co-operation has occurred for 20 | P a g e coastal area management biodiversity conservation, and risk management protocols for natural hazards. Monitoring, reporting and evaluation Countries are using a variety of approaches for their Monitoring & Evaluation(M&E) schemes. Some MS are implementing, or developing indicators on climate impacts, risks and adaptation. EU MS are increasingly recognizing that adaptation is an iterative process whereby learning from planning, implementation, M&E schemes and new information from research are used to improve future adaptation interventions. Summary of key lessons for Ireland The key lessons for Ireland from developments in adaptation policy at EU level include: Effective horizontal and vertical coordination across sectors and down to local level decision making is necessary to ensure the availability of consistent and reliable information as well as by providing clarity with respect to roles and responsibilities. Coordination at the national level is often required. Stakeholder involvement is a key factor in the development and implementation process of adaptation strategies and frameworks. Mainstreaming of climate adaptation into existing plans and policies is an effective way of implementing adaptation measures at national and local level. Effective monitoring tools and periodic reviews of existing policy must form part of an effective adaptation framework. Increasing and maintaining public and political awareness of adaptation is a significant challenge for member states. Other developments Spatial planning While the spatial planning system has always indirectly considered the impact of climate change through the promotion of sustainable planning, the 2010 Planning and Development Act required all new Development Plans to include objectives that; promote measures to reduce energy demand; reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and; address the necessity of adaption to climate change These objectives particularly apply to the context of location, layout and design of new 21 | P a g e development and consideration of climate change as a core issue which must be addressed. These requirements have been further developed through the development of policy measures such as the ‘Planning system and flood risk management’, a guidance document for planning authorities that they are required to follow. This put in place a comprehensive framework for assessing and dealing with flood risk, including the requirement for strategic flood risk to be assessed during the preparation of all new development plans. In relation to wider environmental policy the spatial planning system utilises environmental impact assessments, strategic environmental assessments and appropriate assessments as structured frameworks for assessing new developments impact on the environment, including climate change. The forthcoming National Planning framework and Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies will put in pace a higher order spatial planning framework for the future development of the country including policies to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Research Research is the primary source of information on climate change for Ireland. A large body of research has been undertaken by various agencies and sectors within Ireland with the specific objective of informing policy and decision making on mitigation of GHG emissions and options for adaptation to climate change. Progress under NCCAF has been heavily dependent on scientific data and outputs provided primarily by the EPA Climate Change Research Programme (CCRP), and others such as Met Éireann, Marine institute, DAFM, CoFoRD, Office of Public Works (OPW) and national Universities. Research will continue to be an essential element evidence based decision making and the implementation of adaptation. The EPA Climate Pillar of its research programme is based on four thematic research areas and a coordination structure hosted by the EPA. Under a sub theme of Future Climate in Ireland, Impacts and Adaptation, research is progressed with a view to providing information on: (a) Observations, monitoring and analysis; (b) Modelling of future climate; (c) Impacts, risk and vulnerability assessment; and 22 | P a g e (d) Adaptation information and responses. Capacity Building The development of capacity is a key prerequisite for successful adaptation to climate risks and in identifying opportunities in climate adaptation. The implementation of adaptation strategies requires a number of supports; Data and information (provided through on-going monitoring, evaluation and analysis); Tools, methods, approaches; Human resources-labour, skills, knowledge and expertise; and Networks (formal and informal) to support action by learning and doing. The development of capacity at the sectoral and local authority level continues to be supported by interventions by DECLG and the EPA research Programme. Some of these are discussed in the next sections. Tools, methods, approaches Recently developed tools include: Local Authority Climate Change Adaptation Guidelines under the EPA Research Programme. These have been produced to support the local government sector in the development of a local climate change adaptation strategy. The guidelines draw heavily on the 2013 ‘Guidelines on developing adaptation strategies’ provided to EU Member States by the European Commission (SWD (2013) 134), with the aim of fostering coherence between strategies developed at local and national scale. These guidelines are complemented by an online adaptation tool (the Local Authority Adaptation Support Wizard) developed to support the guidelines which is hosted on Ireland’s Climate Information Platform (ICIP), Climate Ireland (www.climateireland.ie). Climate Ireland Climate Ireland is a one-stop web-based resource of climate and adaptation information for Ireland with the specific purpose of facilitating decision makers at local and sectoral levels in planning for climate change adaptation. Climate Ireland aims to improve decision makers awareness and understanding of climate change and the implications of these changes for Ireland as well as to provide decision-makers with the pre-requisite information for planning 23 | P a g e for climate change adaptation. Climate Ireland will also support adaptation decision making through the development of decision-support frameworks and tools that are specifically tailored to the needs of adaptation decision-making in Ireland. Development of Climate Ireland is ongoing and the final stage of development expected to be completed by December 2016. Climate Ireland is funded under the climate pillar of the EPA Research Programme. 24 | P a g e Annex 3: Other Useful Resources on Adaptation National Resources Policy DECLG (2014). Ireland's 6th National Communication under the UNFCC. Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. DECLG (2013). National Policy Position on Climate Action & Low Carbon Development, and General Scheme of Climate Action and Low-Carbon Development Bill. Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government DECLG (2012). National Climate Change Adaptation Framework. Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 Climate Change Observations and Projections Nolan, P. (2015). Ensemble of Regional Climate Model Projections for Ireland. CCRP Report. EPA: Wexford. Gleeson, E, McGrath, R and M. Treanor, eds. (2014). Ireland’s Climate: the road ahead. Met Eireann: Dublin; O'Dwyer (2012). The Status of Ireland’ Climate. CCRP Report No. 26. EPA: Wexford; Kiely et al. (2010). Extreme weather, climate and natural disasters in Ireland. Climate Change Research Programme. CCRP Report Series No. 5. EPA: Wexford. McGrath and Lynch, eds. (2008). Ireland in a Warmer World: Scientific Predictions of the Irish Climate. Met Éireann/University College Dublin. (c4i); Sweeney et al. (2008). Climate Change - Refining the Impacts for Ireland. STRIVE Report. EPA: Wexford; McElwain and Sweeney (2007). Key Meteorological Indicators of Climate Change in Ireland. Environmental Protection Agency, Ireland; Sweeney et al. (2002). Climate Change Indicators for Ireland. ERTDI Report. EPA: Wexford; 25 | P a g e Impacts and vulnerability Desmond et al, 2009. Summary of the State of Knowledge on Climate Change Impacts for Ireland. CCRP Report No. 1. EPA: Wexford. Sweeney and Coll (2013). Current and Future Vulnerabilities to Climate Change in Ireland (Sweeney and Coll, 2013). CCRP Report Series No. 29. EPA: Wexford. Sweeney et al, 2013. COCOADAPT. CCRP Report No. 30. EPA: Wexford. McGrath and Lynch, eds. (2008). Ireland in a Warmer World: Scientific Predictions of the Irish Climate. Met Éireann/University College Dublin. (c4i); Sweeney et al. (2008). Climate Change - Refining the Impacts for Ireland. STRIVE Report. EPA: Wexford. Sweeney et al. (2003). Climate Change Scenarios and Impacts for Ireland. ERTDI Report. EPA: Wexford; Sectoral studies Falaleeva et al. (2013). Coastal Climate Adaptation in Ireland Assessing current conditions and enhancing the capacity for climate resilience in local coastal management. CCRP Report No. 28. EPA: Wexford; Donnelly et al, (2013). Climate Change Impacts on Phenology: Implications for Terrestrial Ecosystems. CCRP Report Series No. 22. EPA: Wexford; Murphy et al. (2013). Hyrdrodetect . CCRP Report Series No. 27. EPA: Wexford; Sweeney et al. (2013). Coordination, Communication and Adaptation for Climate Change in Ireland: an integrated approach (COCOADAPT). CCRP Report No 30. EPA: Wexford; Coll et al. (2013). Winners and Losers: Climate Change Impacts on Biodiversity in Ireland. CCRP Report Series No. 19. EPA: Wexford; Hall et al. (2012). Robust Adaptation to Climate Change in the Water Sector in Ireland . CCRP Report No 16. EPA: Wexford; Forfás (2010). Adaptation to Climate Change: Issues for Business. Forfás.; Nolan, G., Gillooly, M., Whelan, K. (eds) (2010), Irish Ocean Climate and Ecosystem Status Report Summary 2009. Marine Institute. Kelly and Stack, eds. (2009). Climate Change, Heritage and Tourism: Implications for Ireland's Coast and Inland Waterways. Heritage Council; Boelens et al. (2005). Climate Change: Implications for Ireland's IAE (2009). Ireland at Risk - Critical infrastructure: Adaptation for Climate Change. Irish Academy of 26 | P a g e Engineers; Adaptation Decision Making: Desmond and Shine (2013). Integrating Climate Change Adaptation into Sectoral Policies in Ireland. CCRP Report Series No. 10. EPA: Wexford. Ireland’s Climate Information Platform (ICIP) (www.climateireland.ie) - ICIP aims to provide information to key stakeholders working on climate change adaptation, to create awareness and understanding of climate impacts and adaptation and to understand the measures that can be taken to reduce risk. The Platform will be a key support to the implementation of the NCCAF. EPA Environmental Baseline Date: Information on the most recent baseline data available is published on the EPA website and can be consulted here. International Resources Policy EC (2013). An EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change. Brussels. Paris Agreement, UNFCCC Climate Change Observations and Projections IPCC, 2014: Summary for policymakers. In: Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability. Part A: Global and Sectoral Aspects. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (Field, et al, 2014); IPCC, 2013: Summary for Policymakers. In: Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (Stocker et al, 2013); EEA (2012). Climate change, impacts and vulnerability in Europe 2012: An Indicatorbased report. European Environment Agency, Copenhagen. Adaptation Decision-making EEA (2013). Adaptation in Europe – Addressing risks and opportunities form climate change in the context of socio-economic developments. European Environment Agency, Copenhagen. European Climate Adaptation Platform- CLIMATE-ADAPT: A publicly accessible webbased platform that has been designed to support policy-makers at all levels (EU, 27 | P a g e national, regional, local) in the development of climate change adaptation measures and policies. 28 | P a g e