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Project title

Climate change impacts costing study and an economic appraisal of adaptation measures in Ireland

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

University of Dublin, Trinity College (TCD)

Lead Applicant

Julie Clarke

Project Abstract

The CLIMECO project will contribute to a better understanding of the potential costs of climate change impacts in Ireland, as well the costs and benefits of various adaptation options. The project brings together expertise in vulnerability assessment, quantitative risk modelling and economic analysis to develop improved costings for Ireland due to climate change impacts, as well as costings of adaptation measures. A novel economic appraisal framework for evaluating adaptation options will be developed, which integrates cross-sectoral physical vulnerabilities due to climate change impacts in Ireland, and the associated economic and societal losses through advanced modelling. Adaptation options can then be compared for given scenarios in terms of the associated costs and expected benefits, which are weighed up against the avoided costs, as well as other important criteria, including household equality, avoided impacts, avoided loss of life, etc. Importantly, the project will consider the various sources of uncertainty associated with impact and adaptation costings, and it will demonstrate modelling options to account for these sources of uncertainty. The CLIMECO project will build upon the outputs of several recent EPA-funded research projects, including the TACT project, which developed a quantitative risk assessment methodology to quantity the costs associated with climate change impacts for transport networks in Ireland. In addition, the project will build upon the outputs of the ongoing EPA JustAdapt and EPA/CCAC fellowship projects. Furthermore, the project will make use of the high-resolution regional climate models (RCM) that have been developed for Ireland using the IPCC Special Report on Emissions Scenarios. The project will heavily engage with relevant stakeholders across the various sectors, focusing on the 12 key sectors implementing adaptation planning in Ireland; namely agriculture, forestry and seafood, biodiversity, built and archaeological heritage, transport infrastructure, electricity and gas networks, communications networks, flood risk management, water quality and water services infrastructure, health. Analysis of past EWES and consideration of future regional climate projections for Ireland, focusing on flooding, storm events, sea level rise, as well as prolonged periods of heat and drought. The CLIMECO project will undertake significant communication, dissemination and knowledge transfer activities to enhance the knowledge of climate change impacts for Ireland, providing further insight in relation to the impacts the country faces, the severity of those impacts across various sectors, the costs of those impacts, and an economic review of adaptation options to increase Ireland’s resilience to these impacts. Project results will be communicated in a targeted manner to stakeholders in industry, policy and to the general public through workshops, publications and media outlets. Informing stakeholders will help them prepare for future impacts and limit the economic impacts they face. Policymakers can apply the research evidence to formulate cost effective policies. This project will increase public awareness and stimulate the public debate concerning climate change impacts, adaptation, and climate policy. Ultimately, the CLIMECO project will contribute to more informed adaptation planning that considers cross-sectoral climate impacts, and it will support Ireland’s transition to a climate-resilient society.

Grant Approved

�286,425.35

Research Hub

Climate Change

Research Theme

n/a

Start Date

31/03/2023

Initial Projected Completion Date

30/03/2025