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Adaptation policy

Key information

As the impacts of climate change cuts across all governmental levels, sectors and society, adaptation is widely understood as a multi-level endeavour that requires the co-ordination of different levels of government.

At the local and regional levels, the focus is on the implementation of adaptation responses while those at the national and international levels play a more strategic role by framing and supporting adaptation policy.

To date, 25 EU countries have adopted National Adaptation Strategies or Plans, including Ireland. The National Adaptation Framework articulate Ireland's strategy for the application of adaptation measures in different sectors as well as local authorities.

  • The EU adaptation Strategy, published first in 2013 and updated in 2021, sets out a framework and mechanisms for enhancing the preparedness of the EU for the current and future impacts of climate change;
  • Ireland's National Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 provides the required policy context for a strategic national adaptation response to climate change which aims, as a fundamental national objective, to achieve a transition to a competitive, low carbon, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable economy by 2050;
  • As part of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation to the impacts of climate change will be addressed through two parallel national plans, the National Low-Carbon Roadmap and the National Adaptation Framework;
  • Ireland's Adaptation Framework (NAF), developed by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment provides for an all of government approach to adaptation and requires the development of local and sectoral adaptation plans.

 

Detailed explanation

Adaptation to climate change and the successful implementation of adaptation policy is a task which involves the vertical integration of all levels of government (from local and regional through to national and European levels). At the local and regional levels, the focus is on the implementation of adaptation responses while those at the national and international levels play a more strategic role, framing and supporting adaptation policy [ref] .

Roles and Responsibilities in adaptation decision-making:

  • Local: As the impacts of climate challenge differ spatially, due to local scale vulnerabilities and adaptive capacity, the implementation of adaptation is best undertaken at the local level. This is because local stakeholders know the specific conditions of their area and are best placed to develop flexible solutions using this knowledge;
  • Regional: When adaptation issues cross local/municipal boundaries, regional governments play an important role, as adequately addressing these issues can be difficult for smaller/local jurisdictions. Hence a key role for regional governments is the coordination of spatial planning across municipal borders;
  • National: National Governments provide the link between local and regional actions and EU priorities. Moreover, National governments play a key role in the mainstreaming of adaptation into national policies and in providing stakeholders at all levels with guidance on how to plan for climate change adaptation, assessments and funding. Most importantly, national governments can provide national strategic frameworks that embed local and regional actions into the national context, linking local, regional and sectoral actions into the national context.
Multi-government adaptation 2012

Actions at different levels of government toward adaptation in Europe. [source: EEA, 2012].

Adaptation Policy in the EU

The EU plays a key role in supporting adaptation decision-making by enhancing the preparedness and capacity of all European governance levels to respond to the impacts of climate change. This is achieved by promoting greater coordination and information sharing amongst member states and by ensuring that adaptation considerations are addressed in all relevant European policies (e.g. Water Framework Directive and Common Agricultural Policies).

The EU plays a particularly useful role where climate change impacts transcend borders of individual member states, e.g. river basins, and when impacts very considerably across regions.

In order to develop a more strategic approach to climate adaptation in the EU, the European Commission adopted the EU Adaptation Strategy in 2013, updated in 2021. This strategy aims to make Europe more climate resilient and sets out a framework and mechanisms for enhancing the EU's preparedness for current and future climate change impacts. The strategy is focused around three key objectives:

  • Promoting Action by Member States: The commission will encourage all member states to adopt comprehensive adaptation strategies. Currently, 15 member States, including Ireland, adopted national adaptation strategies;
  • Better Informed Decision-making: By addressing gaps in knowledge about adaptation and further the development of the European Climate Adaptation Platform (Climate-Adapt);
  • Key Vulnerable Sectors: By further promoting adaptation in key vulnerable sectors such as agriculture, fisheries and cohesion policy, ensuring that Europe's infrastructure is made more resilient, and promoting the use of insurance against natural and manmade disasters.

Adaptation Policy in Ireland

Through the Climate Action and Low-Carbon Development Act 2015 and the 2021 amendment, national climate policy in Ireland aims, as a fundamental national objective, to achieve a transition to a competitive, low carbon, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable economy by 2050. As part of this policy, greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation to the impacts of climate change will be addressed through two parallel national plans, the National Low-Carbon Roadmaps and National Climate Change Adaptation Frameworks.

The evolution of climate policy will be an iterative process, based on the development, approval and adoption of a series of national plans over the period to 2050. This will ensure that policy is both comprehensive and coherent across all sectors and will provide business and stakeholders with clarity and policy certainty.

 

Resources

  • Ireland's Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015: Ireland's National Climate policy provides for the development of a National Adaptation Framework which will specify the national strategy for the application of adaptation measures in different sectors and by Local Authorities.
  • The Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government - National Adaptation Framework: The 2012 National Climate Change Adaptation Framework (NCCAF) and later the 2018 National Adaptation Framework (NAF), provides the policy context for a strategic national adaptation response to climate change in Ireland and is designed to evolve over time as planning and implementation progresses, and as further evidence becomes available. It provides a clear mandate for the relevant Government Departments, Agencies and local authorities to prepare and local plans. It outlines the national strategy for the application of adaptation measures in different sectors as well as local authorities. These adaptation measures will aim to reduce vulnerability to the negative impacts of climate change and to avail of positive effects that may occur.
  • Forging a climate-resilient Europe - the new EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change: Based on an understanding of the specific and wide-ranging impacts of climate change impacts on the European Territory, adaptation actions need to be taken from local to regional and national levels. The EU adaptation strategy aims to compliment these actions by filling knowledge and actions and in doing so, help the EU move towards a low-carbon and climate resilient economy.
  • Climate-Adapt: EU mainstreaming in sector policies: This page provides information on mainstreaming of adaptation into EU sector policies (Agriculture and Forestry; Biodiversity; Coastal Areas; Disaster risk reduction; Financial; Health; Infrastructure; Marine and Fisheries and Water Management).
  • Climate-Adapt: EU funding of adaptation: The EU finances adaptation through a wide range of instruments. This page provides information on available EU funds and those available through other international financial institutions.
  • EEA Environmental Indicator Report 2018: This report gives an overview of the EU’s progress towards 29 environmental policy objectives. These are relevant to the achievement of the 7th Environment Action Programme (EAP) three key priority objectives: natural capital; resource-efficient, low-carbon economy; and people’s health and wellbeing.
  • Urban adaptation in Europe: how cities and towns respond to climate change: 2020 EEA assessment report presenting the status quo of adaptation to climate change at the local government level, with particular focus on cities. The assessment presents the overview of climate risks to cities, types of adaptation responses, extent of adaptation planning and actions at the local level in Europe and opportunities to scale up and speed up implementation of adaptation to climate change at the local level.