Built & Archaeological Heritage
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33713_Dept_CHG_Brochure_Layout 1 12/09/2019 16:21 Page 1 Built & Archaeological Heritage Climate Change Sectoral Adaptaǎon Plan Prepared under the Naǎonal Adaptaǎon Framework Prepared by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht September 2019 gov.ie 33713_Dept_CHG_Brochure_Layout 1 12/09/2019 16:21 Page 2 Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Prepared for the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht by Carrig Conservation International in conjunction with University of Lincoln and the Irish Green Building Council Lead author: Dr Cathy Daly © Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht 2019 Built and Archaeological Heritage Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan Contents Minister’s Foreword 5 Executive Summary 7 Introduction 9 1 PREPARING THE GROUND 1.1 Methodology 12 1.2 Built and Archaeological Heritage Sector Profile 12 1.2.1 Overview of Ireland’s Heritage 12 1.2.2 Built Heritage 13 1.2.3 Archaeological Heritage 14 1.2.4 Heritage Records, Databases and Online Mapping Systems 16 2 CLIMATE IMPACT SCREENING 2.1 Climatic Trends in Ireland 18 2.2 Vulnerability of Ireland’s Built and Archaeological Heritage to Impacts of Climate Change 20 2.2.1 Overview of Potential Impacts and Vulnerabilities 20 2.2.2 Coastal Heritage 20 2.2.3 Architectural and Archaeological Heritage 20 2.2.4 Cultural Landscapes 21 2.2.5 Opportunities 22 3 PRIORITISATION 3.1 Overview of the Prioritisation Process 26 3.2 Priorities 27 4 PRIORITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT 4.1 Introduction to Case Studies 30 4.2 Coastal Erosion 31 4.2.1 Environmental Causes and Effects 31 4.2.2 Impact of Climate-Change Projections 31 4.2.3 Case Study 1 – Dunbeg Fort, County Kerry 31 4.2.4 Case Study 2 – Portraine, County Dublin 33 4.2.5 Sectoral Consequences and Possible Actions 33 4.3 Inland Flooding 35 1 33713_Dept_CHG_Brochure_Layout 1 12/09/2019 16:21 Page 2 Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht 4.3.1 Environmental Causes and Effects 35 4.3.2 Impact of Climate-Change Projections 36 4.3.3 Case Study 3 – Clonmel, County Tipperary 37 4.3.4 Case Study 4 – Athlone, Counties Westmeath and Roscommon 38 4.3.5 Case Study 5 – County Donegal 38 4.3.6 Sectoral Consequences and Possible Actions 39 4.4 Coastal Flooding 39 4.4.1 Environmental Causes and Effects 39 4.4.2 Impact of Climate-Change Projections 39 4.4.3 Case Study 6 – Dublin City 39 4.4.4 Sectoral Consequences and Possible Actions 45 4.5 Storm Damage 45 4.5.1 Environmental Causes and Effects 45 4.5.2 Impact of Climate-Change Projections 45 4.5.3 Case Study 7 – Croom Castle, County Limerick 45 4.5.4 Case Study 8 – Exposure of 1588 Spanish Armada Wrecks, County Sligo 45 4.5.5 Case Study 9 – Human Remains, Counties Wexford and Galway 46 4.5.6 Sectoral Consequences and Possible Actions 46 4.6 Microbiological Growth 47 4.6.1 Environmental Causes and Effects 47 4.6.2 Impacts of Climate-Change Projections 47 4.6.3 Case Study 10 – Barryscourt Castle, County Cork 47 4.6.4 Case Study 11 – Cormac’s Chapel, Rock of Cashel Complex, County Tipperary 48 4.6.5 Sectoral Consequences and Possible Actions 49 4.7 Conclusion 49 5 DEVELOPING THE ADAPTATION PLAN 5.1 Adaptation Goals and Objectives 52 5.1.1 GOAL 1. Improve Understanding of Each Heritage Resource and Its Vulnerability to Climate-Change Impacts 54 5.1.2 GOAL 2. Develop and Mainstream Sustainable Policies and Plans for Climate-Change Adaptation of Built and Archaeological Heritage 55 5.1.3 GOAL 3. Conserve Ireland’s Heritage for Future Generations 57 5.1.4 GOAL 4. Communicate and Transfer Knowledge 58 5.1.5 GOAL 5. Exploit Opportunities for Built and Archaeological Heritage to Demonstrate Value and Secure Resources 60 5.2 Adaptation Action Plan 61 5.2.1 Overview of the Adaptation Action Plan 61 5.2.2 Adaptation Action Plan 61 5.3 Cross-Sectoral Implications for Heritage 67 5.3.1 Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine 67 2 33713_Dept_CHG_Brochure_Layout 1 16/09/2019 10:02 Page 3 Built and Archaeological Heritage Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan 5.3.2 Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht 68 5.3.3 Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment 69 5.3.4 Office of Public Works 70 5.3.5 Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport 71 5.3.6 Department of Health 72 5.3.7 Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government 72 5.3.8 Local-Authority Plans 73 5.4 Co-Benefits 73 5.4.1 National and International Policy Driving Climate Action 73 5.4.2 Learning from the Past 74 5.4.3 Carbon Mitigation 74 5.4.4 Sustainable Development and Rural Employment 75 6 IMPLEMENTATION, EVALUATION AND REVIEW 6.1 Implementing the Adaptation Plan 78 6.1.1 The Purpose of Monitoring and Evaluation 78 6.1.2 Governance 78 6.1.3 Indicators 78 6.1.4 Multi-Stakeholder Engagement 79 6.1.5 Resourcing the Plan 79 6.1.6 Evaluation Mechanisms and Timing 79 6.1.7 Implementation and Monitoring Plan 79 6.2 Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment Screening Reports 89 7 BIBLIOGRAPHY AND APPENDICES Bibliography 92 List of Figures 100 List of Tables 102 Appendix I: Glossary and Abbreviations 107 Appendix II: Relevant Policy and Planning Legislation 109 Appendix III: Development Team 110 3 33713_Dept_CHG_Brochure_Layout 1 12/09/2019 16:21 Page 4 33713_Dept_CHG_Brochure_Layout 1 12/09/2019 16:21 Page 5 Built and Archaeological Heritage Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan Minister’s Foreword Our historic buildings and archaeological sites and monuments across the state have stood for centuries, if not for millennia. Yet there can be no denying the risk extreme weather events and climate change pose to them. Hotter and drier summers, warmer and wetter winters, the increased frequency of extreme weather events and rising sea levels may result in structural damage to monuments and historic buildings, structures being undermined by coastal erosion, exposure and erosion of archaeological sites and flooding of historic urban areas. My department is addressing the effects of climate change on our heritage and it is important that the public informs this process. The responsibility to identify where damage may be likely, to assist in repair and to build resilience will rest with many stakeholders in the years to come – both across local and central government and within communities who cherish their heritage. This plan presents a number of case studies which illustrate the impacts of climate change on Ireland’s heritage. A number of goals are also identified, with corresponding objectives and actions to meet those goals. It is hoped that they will enable us to better address those impacts together. We stand ready to lead in meeting our responsibility to protect and conserve our unique heritage informed by the opinion of those who also care for it. Josepha Madigan, T.D. Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht 5 33713_Dept_CHG_Brochure_Layout 1 12/09/2019 16:21 Page 6 33713_Dept_CHG_Brochure_Layout 1 12/09/2019 16:21 Page 7 Built and Archaeological Heritage Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan Executive Summary In May 2019, the Irish government became the the climate) are changing (Dwyer, 2012). The last second country in the world to declare a climate century was characterised by an upward trend in emergency. The global climate has already warmed by temperatures, resulting in warmer, wetter winters between 0.8°C and 1.2°C since 1900 and, while we and hotter, drier summers, accompanied by an must act to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and increase in extreme weather events. This pattern is avoid exceeding an increase of 1.5°C, some climate- likely to continue. In the marine environment, we change impacts are already inevitable can expect rising sea levels and an increase in storm (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), surge, temperature and acidification. 2018). The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 established the requirement The direct effects of climate change on heritage may for a National Adaptation Framework (NAF). The be immediate or cumulative. Damage from 2019 NAF will be composed of 12 sectoral plans, of catastrophic weather events such as floods and which built and archaeological heritage is one. All the storms is likely to increase at the same time as slow- plans have been written according to the Sectoral onset environmental-deterioration mechanisms. The Planning Guidelines for Climate Change Adaptation way these effects manifest will vary according to the produced by the Department of Communications, sensitivity of the heritage and its level of exposure. Climate Action and Environment (DCCAE, 2018a). In addition, there will be indirect impacts arising These guidelines detail a six-step process which has from societal responses to climate change in terms been used as a framework for drafting this plan and is of both adaptation (e.g. changes in land use) and also reflected in its structure. The plan has been mitigation (e.g. the retrofitting of historic buildings informed by existing research and has incorporated to reduce energy consumption). Of the many consultation with experts, stakeholders and the potential impacts, those identified as priorities for public throughout its production. It has also closely adaptation planning are flooding (inland and considered published plans from other sectors in coastal), storm damage, coastal erosion, soil order to promote consistency within the NAF and to movement (landslip or erosion), changing burial- ensure cross-cutting issues are highlighted. preservation conditions, pests and mould, wildfires and maladaptation.