Climate Adaptation in Ireland

Abstract

It is likely that climate change will have significant impacts on flood risk in Ireland due to rising sea levels, increased rainfall and more intense storms. While it is important that causes of climate change are addressed, Ireland must also adapt to such changes. Ireland is well advanced in its preparations to tackle flood risk now and into the future. In May 2018, the OPW completed the most extensive and comprehensive study on flood risk in Ireland and through the National Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management programme identified 118 flood relief schemes to be carried out over the next decade. The measures contained in the Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMPs) that have been developed took due account of the impact that climate change would have on future flood risk. In this way, the assessment of potentially viable measures took into account how adaptable a proposed measure might be to cope with the potential impacts of climate change. The FRMPs will address flood risk to a total of 23,500 properties through a €1b investment in flood relief measures. Climate change adaptation for future projections of climate change impacts will be a critical aspect of the design and construction of these schemes. Public and stakeholder engagement is a vital component in the development of sustainable long-term strategies for adapting flood risk management for climate change, and extensive consultation was undertaken throughout the process for preparing the FRMPs, and in the preparation of the Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan for Flood Risk Management (2019-2024) that was prepared and adopted by Government as part of the Climate Action Plan in October 2019. The overall goal of the Adaptation Plan is to promote sustainable communities and support the environment through effective management of potential impacts of climate change on flooding and flood risk. This paper provides an overview of flood risk management in Ireland and details potential impacts of climate change as well as the approach to adaptation.