Publication
Sectoral Planning Guidelines for Climate Change Adaptation
From Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
Published on
Last updated on
Ireland's second statutory National Adaptation Framework (NAF) was published on 5 June 2024 by Minister Eamon Ryan TD. The NAF sets out the national strategy to reduce the vulnerability of the country to the negative effects of climate change and to avail of any positive impacts. The Framework was developed under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act of 2015 (Climate Act), which was subsequently amended in 2021.
The NAF outlines a whole of government and society approach to climate adaptation in Ireland. 7 government departments that are statutorily required to prepare sectoral adaptation plans (SAPs) covering 13 priority policy areas are identified within the NAF. These sectors and the lead Government Departments responsible for the development of each plan are set out in the attached document.
To support these key national sectors in planning for climate change adaptation and achieving resilience by 2050, sectoral adaptation guidelines published by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) in 2018 have been updated to account for national adaptation progress and to reflect the evolving landscape of international policy and best practice. These guidelines aim to ensure that a coherent and consistent approach to adaptation planning is adopted at national and sectoral level. The new guidelines draw on the most up-to-date national approaches to change risk assessment (such as the National Climate Change Risk Assessment (NCCRA)) and sources of climate and adaptation information (such as, the Irish Climate Change Assessment Report (ICCA), the National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS), and Climate Ireland).
Sectors preparing sectoral adaptation plans under the NAF are required to prepare their plans in line with the process described within these guidelines, while also being aware of the overall requirements regarding the development of sectoral adaptation plans in Sections 5 and 6 of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Acts 2015 to 2021(Climate Act) and the NAF (particularly Chapters 2 and 3). In addition, when preparing sectoral adaptation plans, sectors should consult and take account of the recommendations of the NCCRA Technical Guidance for Sectoral Risk Assessments (EPA, 2024c), and the national and sectoral priorities and targets (such as, related to emissions reductions). The Technical Guidance will ensure that all sectors plan for common and well accepted climate scenarios, as well as a common understanding of the future climate.
