Ireland's State of the Environment Report 2024

82 Chapter 4: Climate Change Topic Box 4.1  Ireland’s Climate Change Assessment The ICCA report provides, for the first time, a comprehensive and authoritative assessment of the state of knowledge around all key aspects of climate change, with a central focus on Ireland (Thorne et al. , 2024; Noone, et al. , 2024; McGookin, et al. , 2023; Murphy, et al. , 2024; Moriarty, et al. , 2024). Led by the EPA and undertaken by leading researchers, the report provides an assessment of our understanding of climate change, tying together all available lines of evidence to provide actionable information. This is based on scientific research and systematic observations in Ireland, linked to EU and global analyses. The ICCA report aims to provide summary information that can inform decision-making on climate actions. Key findings: 1. Human activity has resulted in widespread and rapid changes in the climate, which are already having an impact on us. 2. The future climate is in our hands. Halting warming globally, and in Ireland, requires rapidly reaching at least net zero carbon dioxide emissions and substantially cutting other greenhouse gas emissions. Every action matters: with every additional increment of warming, impacts for Ireland will increase substantially. 3. Having peaked in 2001, Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions have reduced in all sectors except agriculture. However, Ireland currently emits higher levels of greenhouse gases per person than the EU average. A legal basis for deep, rapid and sustained national emissions cuts now exists, although current policies and actions remain insufficient to meet these aims. The pathway forward is clearer for energy, transport and the built environment than for agriculture and land use. For all sectors, there are many challenges to overcome. 4. Ireland needs to be resilient to ongoing and future climate change impacts (Figure 4.1). This requires increased focus on and investment in adaptation that can protect us from future climatic impacts. The current implementation of adaptation measures is too slow and fragmented. Doing better requires more financing, working with people and nature, monitoring and evaluating outcomes and increasing public and private sector involvement. 5. Effective and just transformative actions will have mitigation and adaptation benefits and will bring broader benefits for health, wellbeing, nature and sustainable economic development. The state has a central role to play in enabling the necessary transformations, supported through action across society. Decisions taken this decade will reverberate for generations to come. Figure 4.1  The Línte na Farraige (Lines of the Sea) project communicated the risks from future sea level rise through a series of light installations across Irish coastal locations and heritage sites. Spanish Arch, Galway. Source: Pekka Niittyvirta, Línte Na Farraige/Lines of the Sea 2 2 www.creativeireland.gov.ie/app/uploads/2023/04/Linte-na-Farraige.pdf