Climate Change Research Programme (CCRP) 2007-2013 Report Series No. 30 Co-ordination, Communication and Adaptation for Climate Change in Ireland: an Integrated Approach (COCOADAPT) Comhshaol, Pobal agus Rialtas Áitiúil Environment, Community and Local Government EPA Inside Pages NEW_Blue Text 07/06/2013 10:12 Page 1 Environmental Protection Agency The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is REGULATING IRELAND’S GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS a statutory body responsible for protecting n Quantifying Ireland’s emissions of greenhouse gases the environment in Ireland. We regulate and in the context of our Kyoto commitments police activities that might otherwise cause n Implementing the Emissions Trading Directive, pollution. We ensure there is solid involving over 100 companies who are major information on environmental trends so that generators of carbon dioxide in Ireland. necessary actions are taken. Our priorities are protecting the Irish environment and ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ensuring that development is sustainable. n Co-ordinating research on environmental issues (including air and water quality, climate change, The EPA is an independent public body biodiversity, environmental technologies). established in July 1993 under the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992. STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Its sponsor in Government is the Department n Assessing the impact of plans and programmes on of the Environment, Community and Local the Irish environment (such as waste management Government. and development plans). OUR RESPONSIBILITIES ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING, EDUCATION AND GUIDANCE LICENSING n Providing guidance to the public and to industry on various environmental topics (including licence We license the following to ensure that their emissions applications, waste prevention and environmental do not endanger human health or harm the regulations). environment: n Generating greater environmental awareness n waste facilities (e.g., landfills, incinerators, waste (through environmental television programmes and transfer stations); primary and secondary schools’ resource packs). n large scale industrial activities (e.g., pharmaceutical manufacturing, cement manufacturing, power PROACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT plants); n Promoting waste prevention and minimisation n intensive agriculture; projects through the co-ordination of the National n the contained use and controlled release of Waste Prevention Programme, including input into Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs); the implementation of Producer Responsibility n large petrol storage facilities; Initiatives. n waste water discharges; n Enforcing Regulations such as Waste Electrical and n dumping at sea. Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) and substances that deplete the ozone layer. NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ENFORCEMENT n Developing a National Hazardous Waste Management n Conducting over 1200 audits and inspections of EPA Plan to prevent and manage hazardous waste. licensed facilities every year. n Overseeing local authorities’ environmental MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE OF THE EPA protection responsibilities in the areas of - air, noise, waste, waste-water and water quality. The organisation is managed by a full time Board, n Working with local authorities and the Gardaí to consisting of a Director General and four Directors. stamp out illegal waste activity by co-ordinating a national enforcement network, targeting offenders, The work of the EPA is carried out across four offices: conducting investigations and overseeing n Office of Climate, Licensing and Resource Use remediation. n Office of Environmental Enforcement n Prosecuting those who flout environmental law and n Office of Environmental Assessment damage the environment as a result of their actions. n Office of Communications and Corporate Services MONITORING, ANALYSING AND REPORTING ON THE ENVIRONMENT The EPA is assisted by an Advisory Committee of twelve members who meet several times a year to discuss n Monitoring air quality and the quality of rivers, issues of concern and offer advice to the Board. lakes, tidal waters and ground waters; measuring water levels and river flows. n Independent reporting to inform decision making by national and local government. EPA STRIVE Programme 2007-2013 Co-ordination, Communication and Adaptation for Climate Change in Ireland: an Integrated Approach (COCOADAPT) (2007-CCRP-2.2.6a) End of Project Report Prepared for the Environmental Protection Agency by The Irish Climate Analysis and Research UnitS, Department of Geography, National University of Ireland Maynooth Authors: John Sweeney, David Bourke, John Coll, Stephen Flood, Michael Gormally, Julia Hall, Jackie McGloughlin, Conor Murphy, Nichola Salmon, Micheline Sheehy Skeffington and David Smyth. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY An Ghníomhaireacht um Chaomhnú Comhshaoil PO Box 3000, Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford, Ireland Telephone: +353 53 916 0600 Fax: +353 53 916 0699 i Email: [email protected] Website: www.epa.ie © Environmental Protection Agency 2013 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This report is published as part of the Climate Change Research Programme 2007-2013. The programme is financed by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan 2007- 2013. It is administered on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government by the Environment Protection Agency which has the statutory function of co-ordinating and promoting environmental research. DISCLAIMER Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the material contained in this publication, complete accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Neither the Environmental Protection Agency nor the author(s) accept any responsibility whatsoever for loss or damage occasioned or claimed to have been occasioned, in part or in full, as a consequence of any person acting, or refraining from acting, as a result of a matter contained in this publication. All or part of this publication may be reproduced without further permission, provided the source is acknowledged. The EPA Climate Change Research Programme addresses the need for research in Ireland to inform policymakers and other stakeholders on a range of questions in relation to environmental protection. These reports are intended as contributions to the necessary debate on the protection of the environment. EPA Climate Change Research PROGRAMME 2007-2013 Published by the Environmental protection Agency, Ireland PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER ISBN: Price: € ii Details of Project Partners Professor John Sweeney Dr David Bourke Department of Geography Applied Ecology Unit, Centre for National University of Ireland Maynooth Environmental Science and Department Ireland of Botany and Plant Science National University of Ireland Galway Ireland Tel.:+353 1 7086835 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Dr John Coll Stephen Flood Irish Climate Analysis and Research Units Irish Climate Analysis and Research Units Department of Geography Department of Geography National University of Ireland Maynooth National University of Ireland Maynooth Ireland Ireland Tel.:+353 1 7086550 Tel.:+353 1 7086392 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Dr Michael Gormally Julia Hall Applied Ecology Unit Irish Climate Analysis and Research Units Centre for Environmental Science Department of Geography National University of Ireland National University of Ireland Maynooth Galway Ireland Ireland Tel.:+353 1 70868362 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Jackie McGloughlin Dr Conor Murphy Irish Climate Analysis and Research Units Irish Climate Analysis and Research Units Department of Geography Department of Geography National University of Ireland Maynooth National University of Ireland Maynooth Ireland Ireland Tel.:+353 1 7086494 Tel.:+353 1 7083494 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Nichola Salmon Dr Micheline Sheehy Skeffington Irish Climate Analysis and Research Unit Department of Botany and Plant Science Department of Geography National University of Ireland Galway National University of Ireland Maynooth Ireland Ireland Tel.:+353 1 7086834 Tel: +353 91 492682 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] David Smyth Irish Climate Analysis and Research Units Department of Geography National University of Ireland Maynooth Ireland Tel.:+353 1 70868362 Email: [email protected] iii Table of Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................... ii DISCLAIMER.......................................................................................................................... ii Details of Project Partners .................................................................................................... iii Executive Summary ................................................................................................................. 1 1. Introduction to Climate Change Adaptation ................................................................. 7 1.1 The Need to Adapt to Climate Change ................................................................................... 7 1.2 International and National Progress on Climate Change Adaptation ..................................... 8 1.3 Climate Scenarios for Adaptation: a Cautionary Note ............................................................ 8 2. Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Appraisal for Surface Water Resources 10 2.1 Introduction .........................................................................................................................