EPA - Ireland's Environment, An Integrated Assessment - 2020

Chapter 2: Climate Change Climate Change 1. Introduction Climate change is recognised as the defining challenge for this century. In 2019, Dáil Éireann declared a climate and biodiversity emergency (Houses of the Oireachtas, 2019). Addressing the causes and consequences of climate change represents a multi-generational challenge, with the scale of the responses needed being uniquely determined by the effectiveness of actions taken now and in the coming years. The 2015 Paris Agreement provides the framework for global actions to prevent dangerous and irreversible climate change. That agreement was adopted following confirmation by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in its Fifth Assessment Report that warming of the climate system is unequivocal and that the human causes of this are clear (IPCC, 2014). This is evident globally and in Ireland. Both natural and human systems are experiencing diverse changes and impacts as a result of climate change. Adaptation planning to manage current and future unavoidable climate impacts and risks is required. The more rapidly we reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the lesser the impact of any future changes, and the more manageable and less costly they will be. At a national level, Ireland’s Climate Action Plan is an important step towards reaching national and EU climate goals for 2050 (DCCAE, 2019a). Creating the requisite climate-neutral economy and resilient society to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 entails rapid and far-reaching transformative change across the energy, transport, land use, agriculture and food, buildings and industry sectors. Change could bring opportunities and significant co-benefits, ranging from job creation and innovation to improved air quality and human health, reduced traffic congestion and warmer, more efficient homes. In Ireland, there has been a marked escalation in social awareness and public engagement around climate change. A recent survey conducted on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows that 58 per cent of adults cite climate change as one of the top three environmental concerns requiring action (EPA, 2020a). The transition to a climate-neutral economy and climate neutrality by 2050 requires an integrated response, ensuring fairness and a just transition for all. It must be planned and managed to underpin both systemic change to enable low-carbon technologies and practices to flourish, and behavioural change to enable individuals, communities, businesses and organisations to play their part. In this chapter we provide an overview of the key indicators and projections of climate change and the scientific understanding of the drivers of these. The policy responses at the global, European Union (EU) and national levels are described. Ireland’s GHG emissions and trends are presented along with an overview of the emerging structures that are designed to inform and enable effective national responses to climate change. These are explored further in Chapters 3, 11, 12 and 13. The transition to a climate- neutral and climate-resilient Ireland should give rise to significant opportunities and benefits. The pathways for achieving this transition will be enhanced via an effective, integrated responses that puts climate action and the management of climate risk at the centre of decision- making. Approaches to doing this, including citizen engagement, are also outlined. 35