Ireland is experiencing increasingly severe climate change impacts, including rising temperatures, heavier rainfall, flooding, coastal erosion, and ocean acidification. Despite these growing threats, climate adaptation has frequently been overshadowed by mitigation in national policy and decision-making. This imbalance has left the country underprepared for the environmental, social, and economic challenges already underway. Adaptation costs are currently estimated at up to €800 million per year and are projected to rise into the billions by 2050.
A recent study by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Dublin City University (DCU) Water Institute, Addressing the Political Economic Barriers to Climate Adaptation in Ireland, highlights the key obstacles that hinder effective climate adaptation across the country. Using a political economy approach, the study examines the institutional, political, and economic dynamics shaping adaptation decisions in three critical sectors: agriculture, flood risk management, and water services. Through literature reviews, document analysis, stakeholder interviews, and a national workshop, the research identified both cross-sectoral and sector-specific barriers.
Systemic Challenges
One of the most pressing issues identified is the lack of urgency. Climate change is often perceived by stakeholders as a distant concern rather than an immediate crisis requiring coordinated action. Adaptation initiatives also compete with short-term political and economic priorities, leading to limited focus and underinvestment. Additionally, weak coordination across government departments and agencies significantly undermines implementation efforts.
Sector-Specific Barriers
- Agriculture: Adaptation is underdeveloped, as mitigation has received disproportionate attention. The sector suffers from unclear goals, low trust in advisory services, and the outsized influence of powerful interest groups.
- Flood Risk Management: Projects are often delayed by public disagreements, ambiguous divisions of responsibility between national and local bodies, and inflexible funding frameworks.
- Water Services: Outdated assumptions about water abundance persist, while fragmented governance and outdated policies hamper efforts to address growing risks to water quality and supply.
Recommendations for Action
To overcome these barriers, the study calls for strong and consistent political leadership, including the appointment of dedicated climate adaptation leaders at national level. A robust national dialogue that includes citizens, local communities, and sectoral stakeholders can
help build consensus on key issues such as sustainable food systems and integrated landscape management.
Substantial increases in financial and technical resources—especially for local authorities—are essential to turning adaptation plans into action. The report also recommends clearer goal-setting for farmers, more inclusive engagement in flood risk planning, and widespread public education campaigns on water security.
Improved alignment across government departments is critical to creating a cohesive national strategy that addresses both existing vulnerabilities and future risks.
The Path Forward
Ultimately, Ireland must adopt a unified and coordinated strategy to adapt to the escalating impacts of climate change. Addressing the structural, institutional, and governance challenges outlined in this study is essential to building national resilience and ensuring that climate adaptation becomes a sustained political priority. Without urgent, long-term action, the cost of inaction will only grow—leaving communities, industries, and ecosystems increasingly exposed to the consequences of a changing climate.
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