Policy information
Climate Action
From Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
Published on
Last updated on
One of the greatest global challenges for this and future generations is how we address climate change. The impacts of climate change will affect all sectors of society and we all need to consider how Ireland can best contribute to the solutions. We have a limited window for real action to ensure that current and future generations can live sustainably in a low carbon and climate resilient world.
The Government of Ireland is taking the lead in addressing this challenge and in ensuring that there is a sustained and strategic approach to incremental and permanent decarbonisation. It is crucial that this approach, which also includes climate change mitigation and adaptation, involves everyone including government, individuals and wider society.
Climate disruption is already having diverse and wide ranging impacts on Ireland's society, environment, economy and natural resources. Ireland must significantly step up its commitments to tackle climate disruption. The leadership role both the government and public bodies can play in taking early action on climate is fundamental to achieving our decarbonisation goals.
Read more about Tackling Climate Breakdown
The government recognises the challenge of reducing Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions. National climate policy will demonstrate the government’s ambition and our commitment to wider EU targets. This will address the climate challenge across all sectors of society and allow Ireland to transition to a low-carbon economy by 2050.
Read more about National Climate Policy
Even if global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are successful, the effects of climate change will continue to impact on our economy and society due to past and current emissions. Adaptation to address the current and future risks posed by a changing climate is critical. The government recognises this and is taking measures to ensure that all sectors of government and society are working together to ensure that Ireland can become climate resilient by 2050.
Read more about Adapting to Climate Breakdown
Ireland recognises climate change as one of the key challenges of this century. Failure to address the climate challenge will result in major adverse impacts that will affect all countries. Its scale and complexity demand a coordinated approach at both a national and international level.
Read more about EU and International Climate Action
Evidence for warming of the climate system is indisputable and it is extremely likely that human activity has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the middle of the 20th century. Observations show that average global temperatures have increased by almost 1˚C since pre-industrial times. The atmosphere and oceans have warmed, the amount of snow and ice has diminished, and the sea level has risen as the concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs) have increased. The projections of future global and regional climate change indicate that continued emissions of GHGs will cause further warming and changes to the climate system.
Changes in Ireland’s climate are in line with these global trends. Future impacts are predicted to include more increases in sea levels; more intense storms and rainfall; increased likelihood and magnitude of river and coastal flooding; water shortages in summer; increased risk of new pests and diseases; adverse impacts on water quality; and changes in distribution and time of lifecycle events of plant and animal species on land and in the oceans.
Against this background, strategies must be devised to reduce and manage climate change risks through a combination of mitigation and adaptation responses.