Resources and Transport Research

All best practice climate adaptation actions are based on evidence that has been developed through expert research, applied locally. By using the most-up-to-date and accurate information and research, we support climate adaptation planning and actions that work.

Finding and closing gaps in our knowledge of climate adaptation is one of the three pillars of action set out in the current Transport Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan (SAP). The Department of Transport supports, commissions and co-funds climate adaptation research through its Climate Research Programme. Research areas covered include how best to integrate adaptation into Transport investment decisions, what the main climate change risks to transport infrastructure are, and how to make places and communities more resilient.

As well as international guidance and standards, and national plans and policies, key sources of information that can be used when planning for climate adaptation in Ireland include:

• Climate Ireland

The main national portal for climate adaptation, providing information, advice and support to help Ireland adapt to our changing climate.

• TRANSLATE climate projections

Standardised and bias-corrected national climate projections developed by Met Éireann as part of the National Framework for Climate Services. For use in national adaptation planning and risk assessment.

• Floodinfo.ie

The Office of Public Works’ (OPW) national flood information portal, providing location specific access to flood risk and flood risk management information.

• National Climate Change Risk Assessment

Under development by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It will support planning for climate adaptation and developing actions to build resilience.

• Local Authority (LA) Climate Action Plan (CAP) guidelines

Published to help each Local Authority to develop CAP, integrating climate adaptation and emission reduction (mitigation).

The guidelines include a Technical Annex on risk assessment as part of climate adaptation planning.

• Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) Climate Adaptation Strategy, resources and tools

Includes comprehensive climate risk assessment and reporting tools. A good example of Transport adaptation planning and risk assessment, that can serve as a useful ‘how-to’ guide for adaptation action.

Recent transport adaptation research projects that the Department has co-funded or taken part in include:

International projects:

• Strengthening environmental considerations in public investment management (EU DG REFORM and OECD)
• Integrating climate change in infrastructure project appraisal (EU DG REFORM and OECD)

National research:

• CIViC: critical infrastructure vulnerability to climate change (EPA)
• Climate resilient places(NUI Galway)
• Infralinc: INFRAstructure cLimate change risk considering Interdependencies and Cascading hazards(EPA)
• Transboundary Climate Risks for Island of Ireland (TCRII)(NUI Maynooth)
• Just adapt: Just resilience and adaptation in Ireland: sectors and regions (ESRI)

To find out more, check out National Climate Research Database, which is managed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The database can be searched by research area as well as by research projects.