Press release
New Met Éireann maps will guide future construction developments
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
Last updated on
Met Éireann, in a joint initiative with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage’s building standards team, has unveiled a series of climate maps and design weather files in a series of new research reports which will guide the design and construction of Irish building projects into the future. This is an important action of our Climate Action Plan as well as the National Adaptation Framework – the strategy to reduce the vulnerability of the country to the negative effects of climate change.
The relevant reports and data can be accessed at Met Eireann's Climatological Notes page and Technical Notes page.
Based on official international methods, Met Éireann has produced new reports which utilise the driving rain index (an important climatological consideration when designing buildings) and maps extremes in temperature, soil temperature, snow loadings and rainfall frequencies. Climate data for use in building design consisting of past and future weather files for overheating risk assessment are also presented. The outputs of this analysis can be used in numerous ways to inform public policy and to future-proof investment, particularly relating to the built environment - such as the building of bridges, roadways and buildings.
The work was completed in consultation with a steering group made up of representatives from the National Standards Authority of Ireland, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and members of the department’s Building Standards committee under Climate Action Plan 2021. The output of this research will be used to inform national standards and guidance documents relating to the built environment to ensure Irish buildings continue to be climate resilient over their full design life.
Keith Lambkin, Head of the Climate Services Division at Met Éireann, said:
“This joint initiative is a great example of the joined-up working and collaboration to get the best from the climate services that Met Éireann is uniquely equipped to coordinate for Ireland. Blending climate knowledge with sectoral specific expertise has allowed us to tailor climate insights to support Irish decision makers."
This work showcases Met Éireann’s broader role in the development of climate services to benefit wider society as part of their Strategic Plan ‘Making Ireland Weather and Climate Prepared’, which focuses on assisting Irish society to be ready for and responsive to weather and climate risks.
Mr Lambkin added:
“Climate and weather impact our built environment in many ways. For example, planners can use the specialised temperature maps in this research to help improve the resilience of structures against factors such as possible future temperature extremes. As Ireland’s climate changes, these new services will support climate change adaptation and will assist a variety of sectors, allowing planners and policy makers to make decisions now that will help protect against climate and weather risks in the future.”
Met Éireann coordinates Ireland’s National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS), which along with its many partners, supports climate adaptation by providing tailored information and consultancy support on Ireland’s changing climate. This allows Irish decision makers to build resilience into their forward planning, helping to protect built assets, local economies and lives.
The ‘Climate maps to support building design standards’ project is an initiative funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, carried out by Met Éireann and supported by a steering group made up of representatives across Ireland’s built environment sector.
Full project reports and maps published to date can be found at:
In June 2022, the Irish Government agreed to (a) establish a National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS): a mechanism to coordinate, facilitate and strengthen the collaboration among climate information providers and users. This enables the co-production, delivery and use of accurate, actionable and accessible climate information and tools to support climate resilience planning and decision making; And (b) approve Met Éireann to lead and develop Ireland’s National Framework for Climate Services and to continue to work with other government departments and agencies in initiating, coordinating and supporting Ireland’s provision of climate services.
This announcement is made around Earth Day 2023 (23rd April), which this year supports the theme “Invest in Our Planet”, focused on engaging the more than 1 billion people, governments, institutions, and businesses who participate in Earth Day to recognize our collective responsibility and to help accelerate the transition to an equitable, prosperous green economy for all.
The WMO State of the Global Climate 2022 report will be released in advance of Earth Day on 22 April 2023. It provides authoritative scientific information to policy-makers. It is one of WMO’s flagship publications which incorporates input from a wide array of partners. It reports on climate change indicators such as temperature, ocean heat and acidification, sea level rise, sea ice and glaciers, as well as extreme weather. It also provides information on socio-economic impacts, including on food security and migration.