Analysis of contemporary climate adaptation policies in Ireland and their application to the coastal zone

• Published in: Ocean & coastal management 2024-12, Vol.259, p.107404, Article 107404
• Main Authors: Lawlor, Paul, Cooper, J.A.G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Climate change; Coastal areas; EU adaptation preparedness scorecard; Ireland; Monitoring & evaluating climate adaptation measures
• ISSN: 0964-5691
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2024.107404

Global climate change presents a range of impacts on Ireland's economy and society with particular challenges facing coastal areas. The need to adapt to these risks is considered both urgent and essential and the policy framework has evolved to meet these challenges with the adoption of climate action legislation and a National Adaptation Framework (NAF) to facilitate the transition to a climate-resilient economy and society by 2050. This paper briefly reviews the European and Irish government policy context for sectoral climate adaptation before reviewing and classifying the sectoral policy measures introduced to reduce vulnerabilities to climate change impacts. While the analysis reveals that progress has been made by adopting climate action legislation and by developing a suite of climate action focussed plans, it also demonstrates that the policy measures included in the Sectoral Adaptation Plans to reduce climate change vulnerabilities are limited in number and lacking in effectiveness. Furthermore, their application to cross-cutting themes, exemplified by the coast, is inadequate to deal with the practical climate change issues. These findings indicate that Ireland is at a preliminary stage when assessed according to the EU adaptation preparedness scorecard. •Reviews the climate change adaptation policies in Ireland,•Identifies adaptation measures designed to reduce climate change vulnerabilities, classifying their outputs and evaluating their effectiveness in coastal areas•Demonstrates that measures to reduce climate change vulnerabilities are low in number and lack effectiveness•Signifies that the progress on adaptation by Ireland is limited when assessed using the EU Adaptation Preparedness Scorecard.