Thomas Gould
Question:181. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the contingency plans that are in place for extreme weather events caused by global warming. [41834/22]
View answerTuesday, 26 July 2022
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The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) is designated as the Lead Government Department for coordinating the response to severe weather emergencies. This role is led by that Department’s National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM) within that Department.
Climate observations show that Ireland’s climate is changing – in terms of sea level rise; increases in average temperature; changes in precipitation patterns; and weather extremes. For example, average temperatures have increased in Ireland by 0.9°C since 1900. Climate change impacts here are projected to increase in the coming decades. These impacts could include:
- Increased likelihood and scale of river and coastal flooding
- Water shortages in summer
- Increased risk of new pests and diseases
- Adverse impacts on water quality and supply
- Changes in the distribution and phenology (the timing of lifecycle events) of plant and animal species – on land and in the oceans
My Department leads and coordinates national adaptation policy, primarily through implementation of the National Adaptation Framework (NAF).
The strategic vision for the NAF is to develop a ‘climate resilient Ireland’. The NAF sets out a high-level vision of the capacity of Ireland’s social, economic and environmental systems to cope with climate change. A primary objective of the NAF is to bring a clear and strong focus to transitioning to a climate resilient future. The key objectives of the NAF are implemented through activities – at sectoral, regional and local level. Sectoral Departments and Agencies are responsible for implementing adaptation measures in their own policy areas.
The NAF is currently being reviewed in line with the requirements of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act and Climate Action Plan 2021. A report in relation to the NAF review will be submitted to me later this year which will help to guide national adaptation priorities over the coming years.