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

Ireland’s Environment – An Integrated Assessment 2020 the development of new businesses with the potential for export. For example, Irish expertise in integrating variable renewables into electricity transmission networks is respected worldwide given its experience built on ambitious action in Ireland to date. Climate action can also be the lever to attract more international finance flows to Ireland. The European Investment Bank has a mandate to increase the share of its financing dedicated to climate action and environmental sustainability to reach 50 per cent of its operations in 2025. This represents a huge increase in finance available for climate action and is a key opportunity for Ireland if appropriate proposals can be developed. Supporting International Climate Action Under the UNFCCC, Ireland as a developed country is committed to mobilising finance to assist climate action in developing countries. Ireland has increased its international climate finance from €33.7 million in 2015 to €77.2 million in 2018, with a focus on least developed countries and regular contributions to the Green Climate Fund. International climate finance represents an opportunity for Ireland to enhance its relationship with developing countries, which have been focused on adaptation and resilience for a number of years, and sharing learning on the response to climate change. Engagement has the potential to open up new markets for green and low-carbon goods and services for the benefit of all Parties. Adaptation Planning and Governance: Towards a Climate-resilient Ireland Key sectors and all local authorities now have climate change adaptation frameworks in place. Effective and timely implementation of these frameworks will need good governance and oversight. They will also need to be supported by the availability of information and knowledge systems. To prepare for the impacts of climate change, the 2018 NAF required 12 priority sectors to prepare 5-year sectoral adaptation plans 11 and each local authority is required to have a local adaptation strategy in place. Sectoral Planning Guidelines for Climate Change Adaptation (DCCAE, 2018b) and Local Authority Adaptation Strategy Development Guidelines (DCCAE, 2018c) were published by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment to guide the development of these plans and strategies. Nine sectoral adaptation plans for 12 priority sectors were published in 2019 (Figure 2.6). 11 Approved sectoral adaptation plans are available at https://www.gov. ie/en/ publication/10221107-sectoral-planning-guidelines-for-climate- change-adaptation/ A governance framework has emerged that provides oversight and enhanced coordination and aims to maximise resources in this area. Figure 2.6  Nine sectoral adaptation plans for 12 priority sectors published in 2019 The four local authority Climate Action Regional Offices (CAROs) are a new and important layer in the climate governance structure. The offices supported local authorities as they prepared their local climate adaptation strategies and they will be a key structure in furthering their implementation, as well as in local adaptation and mitigation research, communications and behavioural change, training and education. Support and Information Systems Easy access to the most up-to-date data, information and tools is essential for effective adaptation planning. Climate Ireland 12 is the national web-based resource of up-to-date and fit-for-purpose climate and adaptation information and tools (Figure 2.7). Climate Ireland provides this service for local, regional and sectoral decision- makers in line with the published adaptation strategy development guidelines. Climate Ireland also plays a key role in increasing awareness of and building capacity for adaptation planning through one-to-one support and the provision of tailored adaptation planning workshops, training and seminars. 12 http://www.climateireland.ie 52