Research Publications

Research 481: Addressing the Political Economic Barriers to Climate Adaptation in Ireland

Authors: Alice Brawley-Chesworth, Darren Clarke and Danny Marks, March 2025

Year: 2025

Ireland’s climate is experiencing significant changes that impact the economy, society, and environment. Historically, Ireland’s climate policies have prioritised reducing emissions over adapting to unavoidable climate impacts. With climate-related costs projected to reach billions of euros annually by 2050, this research assesses how current governance structures support or hinder adaptation. Using an innovative political economy approach, the research sought to uncover the interests, incentives, and institutional factors that shape adaptation decisions in the key sectors of agriculture, flood risk management, and water services. The research indicates that political, economic, and social factors hinder Ireland's climate adaptation progress. Barriers include a perceived lack of urgency and the competition between adaptation and immediate short-term priorities. This report provides a roadmap for policymakers, sector leaders, and communities to strengthen adaptation efforts.

Research 480: PestMan: Pesticide Management for Better Water Quality

Authors: Mark G. Healy, Alma Siggins, Paraic C. Ryan, John McGinley, Jennifer Harmon O’Driscoll, Shane Scannell, Per Erik Mellander and Liam Morrison, March 2025

Year: 2025

With world populations increasing the use of pesticides has also increased to bolster crop yields and cater for global food demand. Pesticides released unintentionally from both the agricultural and urban sectors have the potential to enter non-target ecosystems and pose a threat to the environment and human health. The PestMan research project used a multidisciplinary approach, integrating soil processes, molecular biology, engineering, and quantitative risk assessment methodologies to address the environmental and human health impacts of pesticides. It sets out to understand the drivers and pressures of pesticide use, study their fate and persistence, evaluate their risks, and develop a cost-effective, passive remediation method to mitigate these issues. The research developed a multidisciplinary framework to understand and mitigate the environmental and human health impacts of pesticides, focusing on their movement, persistence, risks, and effective remediation strategies

Research 479: A Review of Circular Economy and Bioeconomy Governance in Ireland

Authors: Joanna O’Riordan, Richard Boyle, Seán Keating and Fergal O’Leary, March 2025

Year: 2025

The circular economy and bioeconomy are critical elements of tackling climate change and other global challenges like waste, and pollution, biodiversity loss and water stress, with the aim of using finite resources more sustainably. This research details the complexities and challenges of governance and policy implementation for the circular economy and bioeconomy in Ireland and highlights the need for robust structures, clear roles, leadership, and stakeholder engagement. It concludes that there is an opportunity in the forthcoming Whole-of-Government Circular Economy Strategy and Bioeconomy Strategy to promote meaningful policy coherence and greater collaboration to leverage impactful actions learning and synergies in the implementation of both policy areas.

Research 471: Updated High-resolution Climate Projections for Ireland

Authors: Paul Nolan, March 2025

Year: 2025

Climate change poses significant risks to Ireland’s economy, society and environment. To enable appropriate mitigation and adaptation measure into the future, it is imperative that planners and policymakers are informed about future climate change projections. Addressing knowledge gaps in regional climate projections, this research used scenario-based projections (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0 and SSP5-8.5) to simulate the future climate in Ireland (up to the year 2100). It used the most up-to-date regional climate models at a higher resolution (4 km grid spacing). Broadly in agreement with previous research, this research projects increases in temperature and heatwaves, decreases in frost and snow, increases in both dry and heavy rainfall events, less wind and longer growing seasons among many other things. The research provides Ireland with data to explore its future climate and enables an assessment of impacts across sectors, at regional and local levels.

Research 478: Critical Raw Materials for Ireland for a Resource-Efficient Circular Economy (CIRCLE)

Authors: Ahmar Murtaza, Maham Mahnoor, Anum Inam, Ali Akbar Shah, Muhannad Ahmed Obeidi and Inam Ul Ahad, February 2025

Year: 2025

Global raw material supply is becoming increasingly complex and uncertain, exacerbated by resource scarcity and supply chain vulnerabilities. Critical raw materials (CRM) are vital for industrial growth and competitiveness and a resilient circular economy. Ireland lacked a raw material criticality assessment methodology tailored to its unique economic and resource landscape. To address this gap, the CIRCLE research project developed a CRM methodology tailored to Ireland’s economic and resource landscape. Three methods were developed for assessing raw material criticality with a total of 42 raw materials assessed. The research finding assist stakeholders, including industry and policymakers, in identifying essential materials for various industrial sectors, providing insights into potential supply risks and economic impacts. The report recommends the establishment of a national database to include CRM, Circular material use rate (CMUR) and material flow analysis data.

Research 477: DESIGN – Detection of Environmental Sources of Infectious Disease in Groundwater Networks

Authors: Carlos Chique, Paul Hynds, Liam Burke, Dearbhaile Morris, Michael Ryan and Jean O’Dwyer, February 2025

Year: 2025

In Ireland groundwater sources provide domestic drinking water to approximately 750,000 people in mainly rural areas. Studies that differentiate the exposure pathways and sources are of paramount importance for establishing environmental management solutions that safeguard public health. Ireland currently has the highest incidence of verotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) infection in the EU, domestic private wells are identified as a likely source of infection. This is a public health concern for public authorities and consumers alike. The DESIGN research project provides the first quantitative assessment of VTEC and Cryptosporidium in domestic groundwater supplies in Ireland. It provides insight into the prevalence, source and transport of VTEC and Cryptosporidium in groundwater supplies. The research developed bespoke, spatio-temporal groundwater management policies, and offers invaluable guidance for future planning, remediation and mitigation of contamination in private wells.

EPA Research Report: One-Page Summary Template

Year: 2025

This template should be used for the preparation of final reports for EPA Research projects.

Research 476: Quantification of the Area of Land Burned and Habitats Affected by Wildfires in Ireland, 2015–2021, and the Resulting Emissions

Authors: Fiona Cawkwell, Emma Chalençon, Ned Dwyer, Clara Felberbauer, Stig Hellebust, Beatriz Martin, Thedmer Postma, Guy Serbin and Dean Venables, February 2025

Year: 2025

The atmospheric emissions and loss of biodiversity arising from wildfires in Ireland are poorly understood. In an Irish context, wildfires are uncontrolled fires in vegetation in the countryside or a wilderness area. This research, from the FLARES project, developed an automated methodology that allows the aftermath of wildfires to be mapped, and emissions to be estimated more accurately using factors determined specifically for Irish vegetation species, in this case gorse, heather and purple moor grass. Using earth observation techniques, the research highlights that burned areas were significantly larger than previously estimated and identifies that up to half of the area burned each year lies within designated protected areas. This mapping approach can be used for historical images, as well as those acquired by current and future sensors. It shows that the efficacy of measures taken to reduce the incidence of fire events can also be evaluated.

Research 475: Effect-based Monitoring for Pharmaceutical Pollution in Ireland

Authors: Fiona Regan and Dylan O’Flynn, January 2025

Year: 2025

This research addressed the significant societal and environmental risks posed by active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in water sources. Even at low concentrations these can affect wildlife and potentially humans. The report identifies the main sources of APIs and reveals that certain pharmaceutical compounds are consistently present at measurable concentrations, emphasising the importance of monitoring near waste water treatment plants and in surface waters both upstream and downstream. In addition, the project aimed to assess the effectiveness of ecotoxicology tests in determining the chronic effects of pharmaceuticals and measure toxicity, or modes of action using a battery of bioassays on individual pharmaceutical compounds and mixtures. Using this comprehensive approach, the research provides a deeper understanding of pharmaceutical pollution to inform strategies to mitigate its impact on the environment and public health.

Research 474: STEP_WISE: Spatiotemporal Epidemiology of Primary Waterborne Infections – Cryptosporidium and VTEC

Authors: Authors: Paul Hynds, Jean O’Dwyer and Martin Boudou, January 2025

Year: 2025

Ireland regularly reports the highest annual crude incidence of verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) enteritis and cryptosporidiosis in Europe, it is typically 5–10 times the European average. Drivers of infections include short-term hydrometeorological conditions, elevated levels of pastoral agriculture and high reliance on septic tanks and private domestic groundwater sources. Forecasts suggest that Ireland will experience significant hydrometeorological pattern changes due to global warming. The STEP_WISE project focused on increasing scientific understanding of the spatiotemporal mechanisms associated with waterborne VTEC enteritis and cryptosporidiosis in Ireland, and determining how these findings could be translated into enhanced environmental, infrastructural and healthcare policies. The research findings provide policy actors with valuable information to address transmission sources, pathways and source–pathway interactions associated with both infections in Ireland.

Research 473: Coastal Lagoons: Ecology and Restoration (CLEAR)

Authors: Brendan O’Connor, Geoff Oliver, Tony Cawley, Cilian Roden, Philip Perrin, Rutger de Wit, Kevin McCaffrey and Aisha O’Connor, January 2025

Year: 2025

Lagoons of good conservation status are dominated by benthic macrophytes rather than phytoplankton blooms. Lady’s Island Lake in Wexford is one of Ireland’s largest lagoons, it is also one of our most eutrophic lagoons, this contrast with the 1980s when clear water was matched by a well-developed benthic sward of widgeon grass. This research conducted a suite of investigations into the reasons for the decline and compared the results with a less impacted saline lagoon. The results show severe degradation in Lady’s Island Lake with over 10 times higher chlorophyll a levels. Runoff of excessive nutrient inputs of nitrogen and possibly phosphorus from agriculture are identified as the main cause of eutrophication. A proposal to replace sea barrier breaching with a pipe also poses a serious risk to reducing lagoonal salinity. The research proposes a range of remedial measures to protect and improve the benthic quality of Lady’s Island Lake and other saline lagoons in Ireland.

Research 472: Public Participation and Performance Criteria in Strategic Environmental Assessment: The Way Forward to Advancing Practice

Authors: Ainhoa González, Riki Therivel and Gloriana Vargas, December 2024

Year: 2024

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is an important European Directive that aims to help protect the environment and promote sustainable development, it does this by enabling environmental considerations in the preparation of plans and programmes. Public participation is mandatory under SEA providing an opportunity for knowledge co-creation but participation is generally limited worldwide. It provides a platform to facilitate stakeholders learning, co-design sustainable solutions and inform decision-making. The SEAWAY research project looked to address two practical challenges in SEA implementation, the need for effective public participation and the need for strong key performance indicators to measure SEA effectiveness. This research delivers guidance notes on both public participation and a robust KPI framework to measure SEA effectiveness, in addition to training and video resources for use by planners, government departments and consultants undertaking SEA for public bodies.

Research 471: Updated High-resolution Climate Projections for Ireland

Authors: Paul Nolan, December 2024

Year: 2024

Climate change poses significant risks to Ireland’s economy, society and environment. To enable appropriate mitigation and adaptation measure into the future, it is imperative that planners and policymakers are informed about future climate change projections. Addressing knowledge gaps in regional climate projections, this research used scenario-based projections (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0 and SSP5-8.5) to simulate the future climate in Ireland (up to the year 2100). It used the most up-to-date regional climate models at a higher resolution (4 km grid spacing). Broadly in agreement with previous research, this research projects increases in temperature and heatwaves, decreases in frost and snow, increases in both dry and heavy rainfall events, less wind and longer growing seasons among many other things. The research provides Ireland with data to explore its future climate and enables an assessment of impacts across sectors, at regional and local levels.

2023 Climate Research Highlights

The National Environmental Coordination Group (NERCG) supports and promotes coordination and knowledge exchange between state bodies involved in funding Environmental research in Ireland., December 2024

Year: 2024

This report has been prepared by the EPA on behalf of the NERCG to highlight climate and climate-related funding by the members for the previous year.

Research 470: FoodPath – Investigating Behavioural Interventions to Reduce Food Waste in Irish Households

Authors: Colum Gibson, Eileen Mitchell, Keelin Tobin, Alberto Longo, Sarah O’Connor and Elizabeth Gold, December 2024

Year: 2024

Food waste is a global issue with significant economic, social and environmental impacts, it is responsible for 8–10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Ireland aims to reduce food waste by 50% by 2030 through initiatives like the Climate Action Plan, Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, and National Food Waste Prevention Roadmap. With food waste influenced by several socio-economic factors, behaviours and attitudes, EPA estimate that in Ireland 29% is generated by households. Building on the EPA's Stop Food Waste programme, the FoodPath project implemented two interventions: Intervention A using tools, nudges, and messaging via waste collectors proved a cost-efficient household food waste reduction model. Intervention B, targeting social norms via community groups, was less impactful but showed potential to amplify the effects of Intervention A. The research provides recommendations for behaviour change strategies and pathways for large-scale reductions in household food waste.

Research 469: Public Health Impact of Exposure to Antibiotic Resistance in Recreational Waters (PIER)

Authors: Dearbháile Morris, Liam Burke, Sinéad Duane, Maeve Farrell, Alexandra Chueiri, Dmitry Brychkov, Anne Leonard, Francesca McDonagh, Louise O’Connor, Sabine Franklin, Christine Domegan, Áine McNamara, Regina Kiernan, Katharine Harkin, William Gaze, Easkey Britton, Diarmuid O’Donovan and Martin Cormican, November 2024

Year: 2024

With Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) recognised as one of the greatest challenges to human and animal health, it has major implications for our agriculture and food production systems, environment and economy. Using the One Health approach, which recognises the link between human, animal and environmental health, the PIER project focuses on furthering our understanding of the public health implications of environmental exposure to AMR and how this impacts the use of blue spaces, wellbeing and the quality of life. Using a multidisciplinary project team PIER gathered data on the relative risk of AMR colonisation following exposure in recreations waters, the persistence of AMR carriage in healthy individuals and created a stakeholder recreational water environment map to help identify feasible and impactful options to maximising use of our blue spaces. It highlights the need for guidelines on monitoring and reporting antimicrobial presence in bathing waters and year round monitoring.

Research 468: Managing Small Stream Networks for Improved Water Quality, Catchment Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Protection

Authors: Mary Kelly-Quinn, Michael Bruen, Mike Bowes, Jens Carlsson, Edward Cox, Angela Gurnell, Sinéad Hogan, Ann-Marie Kelly, Marcin Penk, John O’Sullivan and Jeremy Piggott, November 2024

Year: 2024

Ireland has many commitments to both water quality and biodiversity under policies like the Water Framework Directive, national biodiversity plans, the Habitats Directive and the Nature Restoration Law. Considering these this research refocused attention on the Small Stream Network (SSNet) in terms of water quality management and policy. SSNet is the first large-scale research project in Ireland on first- and second-order streams to undertake investigations spanning hydrochemistry, multiple ecological elements and likely impact of climate change stressors. It advances knowledge on the role of small streams in water quality, biodiversity and ecosystem services and the pressures they face from diffuse and point source pollution. It recommends more water quality monitoring of small streams to help protect biodiversity and water quality further downstream, with priority protection given to areas with high regional biodiversity. Citizen science can potentially facilitate better monitoring.

Research 467: Raising Awareness of and Educating Consumers about Reusable Sanitary Products: Developing Strategies for the Promotion of Reusable Nappies, Wipes and Menstrual Items

Author: Abigail O’Callaghan-Platt, November 2024

Year: 2024

Widespread use of disposable single-use sanitary items, nappies and disposable wipes are causing harm to the land and marine environments. Many sanitary items can contain significant levels of plastic (e.g. up to 90% plastic in some menstrual items) and can form a large proportion of household waste (e.g. in 2022 nappies accounted for 10%). With the Single Use Plastics Directive and Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy aiming to reduce single use plastics, and extend producer responsibility requirements, this research focuses on the use of more sustainable options for nappies, wipes and menstrual items. The research combined educational workshops and the provision of reusable alternatives through both the ‘Cloth Nappy Incentive Scheme’ and the ‘No Plastic. Period. Programme'. With a high level of public participation the research identifies four further research and four policy recommendations to enable increased national uptake of reusable nappies, baby wipes and menstrual items.

Research 466: Forecasting WEEE Arising for Electric Vehicle Batteries and Photovoltaic Panels in Ireland

Authors: Michael Johnson, Narjes Fallah, Sheila Killian and Colin Fitzpatrick, October 2024

Year: 2024

Globally, energy systems are undergoing two simultaneous and radical transformations that present a new set of challenges in sustainable waste management: the electrification of the transportation network and the decarbonisation of the electricity grid. This research examines challenges and models scenarios for the sustainable management of LongWEEE. Electrical devices with a longer than average lifetime are classed as LongWEEE with this study focusing on solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and electric vehicle batteries (EVBs). Modelled results for both sectors out to 2050 show a lot of uncertainty regarding the quantities of LongWEEE that will be generated in the future, but that in dealing with inevitable increases WEEE management systems need to to be prepared to cover a range of eventualities. Both “pay when placed” and “pay when collected” financing approaches to collection and treatment were examined in the study with the “pay when placed” identified as the most prudent approach.

Research 465: Diversification of Dairy and Beef Production for Climate-smart Agriculture

Authors: Maria Markiewicz-Keszycka, Paul Hynds, Donal O’Brien, Maeve Henchion and Áine Macken-Walsh, October 2024

Year: 2024

New agricultural practices are needed to meet EU carbon reduction targets and avoid penalties for not reaching these targets. Reporting under the Habitats Directive also suggests that, overall, farming has a negative impact on nature and biodiversity, particularly on intensive farms. Climate change and biodiversity loss are expected to have far-reaching market, economic, business and policy impacts on the agricultural sector. This research desk study sought to develop recommendations for the pro-environmental diversification of dairy and beef farms by conducting a best practice literature review, interviews with innovative farmers, a national farmers survey and modelling the environmental impact of diversification scenarios. The research provides suggestions and solutions for key policy actors and stakeholders that address the challenge of designing environmental schemes that are efficient for nature, help address climate commitments and are economically attractive for farmers.