Climate Action Plan Summary Report

CLIMATE ACTION PLAN SUMMARY REPORT

OVERVIEW & PURPOSE

CLIMATE CHANGE HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST PRESSING GLOBAL PUBLIC POLICY CHALLENGES FACING GOVERNMENTS TODAY.

International organisations, national and local governments are increasingly compelled to take ambitious action to decrease greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change (mitigation) and enhance resilience to climate change impacts and risks (adaptation).

OVERVIEW

To deliver effective climate action at local and community levels, Ireland’s Local Authorities are developing Local Authority Climate Action Plans (LACAPs) which will define a clear pathway to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the local level through the implementation of mitigation measures, reduce the risks posed by climate change through adaptation measure and appropriately manage, maintain and increase biodiversity within our county. In doing so, the LACAP will strengthen the alignment between national climate policy and the delivery of effective local climate action.

PURPOSE

This report has been developed to open stakeholder dialogue and discussions on the development of the LACAP and provides a summary of the evidence that will be used to inform LACAP development. Working with KPMG and Fehily Timoney consultants, Clare County Council developed an evidence base which includes a Climate Change Risk Assessment for County Clare and a Baseline Emissions Inventory for County Clare and also for the Kilkee/Loop Head Decarbonisation Zone, details of which are presented in this Summary Report. In addition, the report provides an indicative Vision and Mission for the LACAP.

Mitigation:

-Reducing the causes (CO2 Emissions)

-Maintaining and Enhancing carbon sinks

Climate Change

(e.g. Sea Level Rise, Increasing Temperatures and Heatwaves, Changing Patterns of Precipitation)

Impacts

(e.g. Coastal Flooding & Erosion Heat Stress, Drought, Fluvial Flooding)

Adaptation:

-Adapting to current climate and weather conditions

-Planning for future climate impacts

Climate Action

Mitigation is related to making the impacts of climate change less severe by preventing or reducing the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere and is achieved either by reducing the sources of these gases (e.g., by increasing the share of renewable energies, or establishing a cleaner mobility system) or by enhancing the storage of these gases (e.g., by increasing levels of afforestation). In short, mitigation is a human intervention that reduces the sources of GHG emissions and/or enhances GHG sinks.

Adaptation is related to anticipating the adverse impacts of climate change and taking appropriate action to prevent or minimise the damage they can cause or taking advantage of opportunities that may arise. Examples of adaptation measures include large-scale infrastructure changes, such as building defences to protect against sealevel rise, as well as behavioural shifts, such as individuals reducing their food waste. In essence, adaptation can be understood as the process of adjusting to the current and future effects of climate change.

Figure 1: An overview of the role of mitigation and adaptation actions in reducing the impacts of climate change. Based on European Environment Agency.

INTRODUCTION

CLIMATE CHANGE: IMPACT AND ACTION

In the latest assessment report, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) states that it is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, land and ocean since pre-industrial times. As a result of climate change, extreme weather and climate events are increasing in frequency and severity across the globe, impacting upon people, businesses and the environment incurring huge costs to the economy and society.

The impact of Earth’s changing climate is becoming more evident, with accelerated melting of ice caps and retreat of glaciers, rising sea levels and extensive changes in global and regional weather patterns.

Ireland’s climate is also changing in line with global trends. On a national basis, annual average temperature has increased by 0.9°C since 1900, which has been accompanied by an increase in the number of warm spells. Patterns of precipitation across Ireland are also changing, with evidence of an increasing amounts of winter and autumn rainfall and increasing sea levels1. Climate change projections for Ireland indicate that these changes will continue and intensify into the future. The impacts of these changes will be felt across Ireland’s communities and environment, incurring huge costs to our economy and society.

To reduce the impact of climate change we need take mitigation and adaptation climate actions (Figure 2). Some climate actions will contribute to both mitigation and adaptation, such as planting and maintaining of trees, which can contribute to removal of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (mitigation) while also acting as shading which can serve to reduce temperatures during heatwave events (adaptation).

Clare County Council has, for some time, been actively implementing a range of actions across various functions and services to tackle climate change, this is in addition to the climate actions led by local communities and businesses throughout the county. The development of the LACAP will ensure a coordinated local response to climate change and bring together critical stakeholders across local government, communities, and businesses to build a vision for a climate neutral and resilient future.

Figure 2: Examples of climate change mitigation and adaptation actions. Based on European Environment Agency.

1 The Status of Ireland´s Climate 2020 (Walther C.A. Cámaro García and Ned Dwyer)

POLICY CONTEXT

GLOBAL RESPONSES TO CLIMATE CHANGE ARE ACCELERATING AS DEMONSTRATED BY THE SIGNING OF THE PARIS AGREEMENT BY 195 COUNTRIES IN 2015 AT THE UN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE (COP21). THIS AGREEMENT IS A LEGALLY BINDING

INTERNATIONAL TREATY WHICH AIMS TO LIMIT GLOBAL WARMING TO LESS THAN 2°C ABOVE PRE-INDUSTRIAL LEVELS, AND PURSUE EFFORTS TO LIMIT INCREASES TO 1.5°C.

Responding to climate change is an urgent priority for governments globally. The COP21 Paris Agreement signed by 195 countries aims to limit global warming by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and to build resilience to climate change by significantly strengthening adaptation efforts. Reflecting the aims to the Paris Agreement, The European Climate Law (2021) set the goal of achieving climate neutrality across the European Union (EU) by 2050, with a reduction of net greenhouse gas emissions of at least 55% below 1990 levels by 2030.

In Ireland, climate policy is aligned with the EU’s ambitions to combat climate change. The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 enshrines the National Climate Objective to pursue and achieve, by no later than the end of 2050, the transition to a climate resilient, biodiversity rich, environmentally sustainable and climate neutral economy

Global

European Union

Ireland

Clare County Council

The Act commits Ireland to a 51% reduction in overall greenhouse gas emission by 2031 (compared to 2018 levels) and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 at the latest.

The importance of place-based approaches and the role of the Local Authority is highlighted in the Act, which stipulates that all local authorities need to prepare a Local Authority Climate Action Plan (LACAP) that specifies the mitigation and adaptation measures to be adopted by the Local Authority.

These plans will be updated not less than once in a five-year period. Figure 3 shows selected examples of climate change related policies from the global to the local level.

• Paris Agreement (COP21)

• UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• Climate & Energy Framework

• EU Adaptation Policy

• EU Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy

• Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021

• Climate Action Plan 2023

• Local Authority Climate Action Charter

• Delivering Effective Climate Action 2030

• Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (2019-2024)

• Local Authority Climate Action Plan (in preparation)

Figure 3: Selected examples of climate change related policies at the global, European Union, Ireland, and Clare County Council level.

CLARE’S CLIMATE ACTION PLAN

LOCAL AUTHORITIES ARE ALREADY AT THE FOREFRONT OF CLIMATE ACTION IN IRELAND AS THEY PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN DELIVERING ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION MEASURES. THEY ARE THEREFORE ENTRUSTED TO OPERATIONALISE THE AMBITIOUS NATIONAL CLIMATE TARGETS AND POLICY AT LOCAL LEVELS, AND TO ASSIST IN THE DELIVERY OF THE NATIONAL CLIMATE OBJECTIVE.

The Clare LACAP will specify actions the council will implement to meet its public sector commitments and contribute towards the national climate objective. The LACAP will adopt a two-pronged approach (Figure 4) by adopting an inward (organisational) and an outward (community) focus on building resilience to the negative impacts of climate change and in tackling the causes of climate change.

ORGANISATIONAL FOCUS

These actions focus on delivering climate action across Clare County Council functions and services. Clare County Council are accountable and responsible for the management and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions produced for day-today activities and protecting and enhancing the resilience of its people and infrastructure against the negative impacts of climate change.

COMMUNITY FOCUS

Clare County Council has a leadership and influencing role to drive climate action amongst the local community. This can be achieved by coordinating, facilitating and advocating for climate action, such as through spatial planning and infrastructure provision. There is also a need for local economic and community development that supports the reduction of greenhouse gas while also allowing communities to adapt and build resilience. Clare County Council can also use their position to coordinate and work in partnership with national and regional stakeholders to facilitate and enable the delivery of appropriate climate initiatives and infrastructure.

Organisational Community

• Managing and reducing greenhouse gas emissions across the local authority organisation while ensuring essential functions and services are delivered

• Protecting and enhancing the resilience of the local authority’s human and infrastructural assets against the negative impacts of climate change

• Influencing sectors, business, communities, and individuals in the delivery of local climate action

• Coordinating and working in partnership with other stakeholders to facilitate and enable the delivery of climate action

• Advocating for climate action by raising awareness, communicating and engaging on climate related issues and responses

Figure 4: The two action areas for Clare County Council’s Climate Action Plan

ENSURING A JUST TRANSITION

As we develop towards a low carbon and climate resilient economy, we must ensure that this transformation is equitable and grounded in the principles of a just transition. A just transition involves

“maximizing the social and economic opportunities of climate action, while minimizing and carefully managing any challenges”.2

Fundamentally, a just transition ensures that the benefits of the emerging green economy are shared fairly and support those who may be impacted, ensuring no one is left behind. Local authorities have a significant role to play in safeguarding communities during this process, supporting local business development, research, tourism and heritage projects, and opportunities for reskilling.

VISION

What does a Just Transition look like in County Clare into the future?

MISSION

While Clare County Council’s Vision Statement defines where it would like to lead the County, a mission statement speaks to its grounded purpose in delivering and mainstreaming effective climate action. This action-oriented mission statement helps guide representatives and stakeholders of Clare County Council in coordinating their work towards the defined Vision.

The indicative Mission for Clare County Council is: TO FACILITATE AND DELIVER EFFECTIVE AND MEASURABLE CLIMATE ACTION TO ENABLE A JUST TRANSITION TO A LOW CARBON AND CLIMATE RESILIENT FUTURE WITHIN COUNTY CLARE WHICH RESULTS IN SUSTAINABLE GROWTH, A HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE, INCLUSIVITY AND SERVICE ACCESSIBILITY ACROSS URBAN AND RURAL COMMUNITIES

The most effective way of reaching our goals is to make sure ‘everyone rows in the same direction’, and this destination is summarised in a unified vision of the future that supports ambitious climate action. Given the wide role that Clare County Council has, it is important to have a unifying vision which reflects a desired and shared perspective of the future in a climate resilient and climate neutral society, that will unite all key stakeholders and inspire action.

The indicative Vision for Clare County Council is: CLARE IS A NATIONAL LEADER IN CLIMATE ACTION SUPPORTING SUSTAINABLE, LOW CARBON, CLIMATE RESILIENT COMMUNITIES AND BUSINESSES

Does the vision and mission encapsulate the future direction of County Clare with regards to climate action?

PROFILE OF COUNTY CLARE

GIVEN THE SIZE AND GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES OF THE COUNTY AS WELL AS THE INFRASTRUCTURE ASSETS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL, THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE POSE A SIGNIFICANT RISK TO CITIZENS, THE ECONOMY, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND THE DELIVERY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES. IT IS THEREFORE IMPERATIVE TO INTRODUCE ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION MEASURES IN A PLANNED AND COORDINATED APPROACH ACROSS THE COUNTY THAT IS TAILORED FOR THE UNIQUE CONTEXT OF COUNTY CLARE.

County Clare consists of an area of approximately 3,450 km2 and is bounded by the counties of Galway to the north, Tipperary to the east and Limerick to the south. As per the Census of population 2022 County Clare had a population of 127,419. The county’s coastline is approximately 360 km long and faces into the Atlantic Ocean on its western coast. The county is drained along its southern border by

the River Shannon and Lough Derg. The other main river is the Fergus which originates from the mid-northern end of the county and flows through the town of Ennis before discharging into the Shannon estuary via a tidal barrage at Clarecastle. Some of the county’s main towns and centres of population such as Ennis, Shannon, Kilrush and Kilkee are on or close to the coastline.

Clare’s natural heritage and biodiversity is of international significance. The county is home to a diverse range of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), including the Lower River Shannon, the Carrowmore Dunes and Moneen Mountain, as well as several Special Protection Areas (SPAs), such as the Loop Head Peninsula

and Lough Derg. The Burren National Park covers 1,800 ha and is home to rare and unusual plants (e.g., the Spring Gentian); the Shannon estuary which is the most significant site in Ireland for over wintering wildfowl and waders; and the Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark which contain one of the principal colonies of seabirds in Ireland.

Commerce and trade are the greatest sources of employment in the county. Outside of the industrial/business, retail and administrative employment centres of Shannon, Ennis and Kilrush, tourism and agriculture are two of the primary industries in County Clare. The ESB operate one of the country’s largest hydropower schemes on the River Shannon at Ardnacrusha in southeast Clare as well as the coal fired power station at Moneypoint on the Shannon estuary. The main industrial region in the county is situated in the Shannon industrial zone adjacent to the international airport. The

county’s tourism sector is an important component and driver of the local economy. In 2019, Fáilte Ireland reported that the Cliffs of Moher Visitor experience generated over 1.6 million visitors. In 2018, the tourism industry generated €244 million and supported 6,600 jobs, with 769,000 tourists visiting Clare in 2018, which was 8% of all overseas visitors to Ireland3

County Clare’s air, road and rail transport facilities are unique in the region. The County is well served by strategic road access with the M18 motorway which bisects the county linking to Galway, Limerick and beyond. Shannon International Airport caters for almost 2 million passengers per annum providing flights directly to the UK, US and Europe, with worldwide connectivity. The Western Rail Corridor already provides for daily commuter rail transport between Ennis/Limerick and Dublin and to Athenry and Galway.

3 County Clare Tourism Strategy 2030

CLIMATE ACTION IN COUNTY CLARE

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL HAS, FOR SOME TIME, BEEN ACTIVELY IMPLEMENTING A RANGE OF ACTIONS ACROSS VARIOUS FUNCTIONS AND SERVICES TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE, THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE CLIMATE ACTIONS LED BY LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

MITIGATION: ACTIVE TRAVEL

being felt across County Clare and pose a significant risk to citizens, the economy, the environment and the delivery of local government services. Due to increased coastal erosion along the promenade in Lahinch, and the projected increases in the frequencies and severity of storms, around 30,000 tonne of rock armour was positioned to safeguard the community and local economy against the inevitable impacts of climate change.

Active Travel, which includes walking, cycling and wheeling, represents a significant opportunity to advance sustainable modes of transport and reduce the association greenhouse gas emissions. Multiple Active Travel projects, such as walking and cycling infrastructure, have been implemented in Clare to date with a further 27 projects announced this year in towns and villages throughout the county.

MITIGATION: RENEWABLE ENERGY

Clare County Council has been active in increasing the renewable energy share of energy consumption within its own facilities. A biomass boiler and solar thermal panels have been actively producing renewable heat for Áras Contae an Chláir since 2008. The biomass boiler has been the primary source of heat for the building in this time.

ADAPTATION: COASTAL EROSION

ADAPTATION: FLOODING

The negative impacts of climate change are already

The Springfield area at Clonlara is vulnerable to flooding from the River Shannon. Multiple flooding events have occurred in this location due to heavy and prolonged rainfall resulting in high water levels in the river. The construction of a flood protection embankment, land raising, penstock/sluice and pump station were undertaken to reduce the impact of extreme weather on the surrounding area.

WHAT ARE OTHER EXAMPLES

OF CLIMATE ACTION YOU HAVE SEEN IN YOUR COMMUNITY THAT COULD BE REPLICATED IN OTHER COMMUNITIES IN CLARE?

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

AN ASSESSMENT OF COUNTY CLARE’S EMISSION SOURCES HAS BEEN UNDERTAKEN, PROVIDING A BASIS AGAINST WHICH TARGETED ACTIONS AND MEASURES CAN BE IDENTIFIED AND MONITORED.

In 2018, the baseline year, Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions within the Clare County Council area were approximately 1,965 ktonnes CO2e.

Figure 5 shows the main sources of emissions within the Clare County Council boundary area which are broadly in line with the national emissions profile.

How do you think the LACAP can support sustainable agriculture and other rural based enterprises such as forestry and renewable energy?

The emissions are primarily broken down across three sectors; agriculture (44%) transport (20%) and residential (16%). Commercial and industrial, industrial processes, Land Use, Land-use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) and waste/wastewater account for the remaining 19% of total GHG emissions.

For the transport sector, it has been identified that 58% of the GHG emissions originate from private car use, with 26% coming from heavy-duty vehicles and 14% from light duty trucks (Figure 6). Emissions from railways are relatively minor, which reflects the low level of railway services in the county. Diesel accounts for the vast majority of fuel use in the county, followed by petrol, then other fuels.

How can we best promote and support a modal shift towards more sustainable modes of transport?

Figure 5: The main sources of emissions within the Clare County Council boundary

Figure 6: Greenhouse gas emissions by transport mode within the Clare County Council boundary

Within the Clare County Council area, there are a range of fuel types used within the central heating of residential properties. Oil and Electricity are the most used fuel sources used by 53% and 20% of households respectively. Solid Fuel and Mains Gas are used by 9% and 15 of households in the county, whereas only 3% use LPG (Figure 7).

How can the LACAP best promote the conservation of energy and minimise its usage?

Challenges for Emission Reduction

The assessment of the emission sources provides valuable information on which to create relevant and targeted actions for Clare County Council to reduce emissions within the region. Possible actions could include:

Action Type Action

Organisational

• Ensuring green energy sources are used within council buildings

• Ensuring energy efficiency measures are implemented in all buildings

• Expansion of the green fleet for local authority vehicles

• Sustainable waste management and reducing usage of single-use plastics

Community

• Integrating climate action further into the planning system to support mitigation objectives.

• Promote the use of active travel (e.g., walking and cycling) by providing suitable infrastructure

• Support, grow and connect local Sustainable Energy Communities

• Support the sustainable management of Clare’s natural heritage, habitats, and landscapes

• Support the development of agriculture that is compatible with the sustainable development of the county and farming community

• Leveraging leadership role within the community to influence residents to switch to lower greenhouse gas emitting energy sources

• Raising awareness amongst the community of actions they can take, such as use greener energy sources and transport choices

Figure 7: The central heating energy source split of occupied private households within the Clare County Council boundary.

KILKEE/LOOP HEAD DECARBONISATION ZONE

KILKEE/LOOP HEAD PENINSULA HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS THE DECARBONISATION ZONE (DZ) FOR CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL. A DZ IS A SPATIAL AREA IDENTIFIED BY THE LOCAL AUTHORITY, IN WHICH A RANGE OF CLIMATE MITIGATION, ADAPTATION AND BIODIVERSITY MEASURES AND ACTION OWNERS ARE IDENTIFIED TO ADDRESS LOCAL LOW CARBON ENERGY, GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND CLIMATE NEEDS TO CONTRIBUTE TO NATIONAL CLIMATE ACTION TARGETS.

The Kilkee/Loop Head Peninsula DZ includes the 10 electoral districts of the three most western parishes of County Clare – Kilballyowen, Carrigaholt and Kilkee with a combined population of 2,891. The peninsula is part of the West Clare Municipal District (West Clare MD), which is the largest MD in County Clare. The area’s socioeconomic and physical environmental characteristics have been reviewed and identified as an appropriate fit for the defined DZ criteria. The Kilkee/Loop Head Peninsula DZ is considered to be an appropriate demonstration area and testbed for rural decarbonisation measures to be adopted in other rural areas as well as scaled up across County Clare.

What are the key issues that the LACAP should focus on for rural communities in Clare?

Total GHG emissions within Kilkee/Loop Head Peninsula DZ for 2018 equate to approximately 136,185 tCO2e. 2018 has been purposefully chosen to align with Ireland’s national targets which are set against a 2018 baseline year. The main sources of

emissions within the Kilkee/Loop Head Decarbonisation Zone area are agriculture (67%), Land Use, Landuse Change and Forestry (LULUCF) (18%), residential (10%), and transport (4%). The Commercial and Public Sector, and Waste sectors account for the remaining emissions.

Figure 8: The Kilkee/Loop Head Decarbonisation Zone boundary.

Figure 9: The sources of the greenhouse gas emissions within the Kilkee/Loop Head Decarbonisation Zone.

Although agriculture inherently represents the largest share of emissions it is imperative that focus is also placed on reducing emissions from all sectors while ensuring that both the social and economic benefits of climate action are maximised in the locality.

How can the Council tailor the implementation of the DZ to support residents and businesses while also protecting Loop Heads landscape, amenities, ecology and rural economy?

CLIMATE ACTION IN PRACTICE

The Loop Head Peninsula has already been a source of innovative climate action initiatives. In January 2023 it was named winner of the IPB Pride of Place Climate Action Special Award for a regenerative farming experiment named Hemp4Soil, which explored the potential to improve soil quality and biodiversity while also creating alternative sustainable income streams for farms on Loop Head. The project involved ten local farmers who, in conjunction with the Department for Agriculture, Fisheries and the Marine and local scientific and biodiversity experts, explored how growing hemp on the land could not only improve the overall quality of the soil and benefit local biodiversity, but could also provide sustainable income streams to the farmers in the future.

What scope is there to increase biodiversity in the Kilkee/Loop Head Peninsula

COUNTY CLARE’S CHANGING CLIMATE

IN LINE WITH GLOBAL TRENDS, THE CLIMATE OF IRELAND AND CLARE IS CHANGING, TEMPERATURES ARE INCREASING, SEA LEVELS ARE RISING, AND PATTERNS OF PRECIPITATION ARE CHANGING. A SUMMARY OF KEY CLIMATE AND WEATHERRELATED CHANGES ALREADY OBSERVED FOR CLARE COUNTY ARE DETAILED BELOW. THESE CHANGES ARE PROJECTED TO CONTINUE AND INTENSIFY WITH A WIDE RANGE OF IMPACTS FOR CLARE AND CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL.

0.6oc

Highest temperature on record recorded on July 28th 2018 at Shannon Airport

Average temperature increase of 0.6oc for the 1981-2010 baseline when compared to the 1961-1990 period**

THE LONGEST RUNNING HEATWAVE IN CLARE was recorded at the Shannon Airport weather station during the summer of 2021, lasting a total of 10 days of temperatures over 250C

SEA LEVELS

in the North-east Atlantic are rising approximately 2 to 3 mm per year between 1992 and 2019 **

Average annual RAINFALL

has increased by 5.5% compared to the 1961-1990 period

*Source: Met Éireann long term weather station:Shannon Airport

**Source: Cámaro García and Dwyer (2021 Climate Status Report 2020, EPA Report 386

? What are the main climate issues facing Clare and how can the LACAP address these?

COUNTY CLARE’S FUTURE CLIMATE

AS A RESULT OF CLIMATE CHANGE, THE FREQUENCY OF EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS IS PROJECTED TO CHANGE. FOR COUNTY CLARE, THIS MEANS THAT SOME HAZARDS MAY OCCUR MORE OFTEN WHILE OTHERS MAY REDUCE. A CLIMATE CHANGE RISK ASSESSMENT (CCRA) WAS UNDERTAKEN TO DEVELOP AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE RISKS

POSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE FOR COUNTY CLARE. BELOW IS AN OVERVIEW OF PROJECTED CHANGES IN THE FREQUENCY OF CLIMATE HAZARDS FOR COUNTY CLARE BY 2050.

Heatwaves Increase ↑

• Projections indicate an overall increase in average temperature of between 1 and 1.5°C for County Clare with more heatwaves projected to occur

Droughts Increase ↑

Cold Spell Decrease ↓

Heavy Snowfall Decrease ↓

Severe Windstorms No Change↔

• Summer rainfall is expected to reduce in the future contributing to a potential increase in frequency of drought conditions.

• As a consequence of projected increases in temperatures, a decrease in the number of frost days, ice days, and snowfall is projected.

• There is a high level of uncertainty when it comes to projections of storm events with some projections indicating that average wind speed will remain similar to those currently experienced. However, some projections indicate an increase in the frequency of the most intense storms.

Coastal Flooding Increase ↑

Coastal Erosion Increase ↑

River Flooding Increase ↑

Surface Water Flooding Increase ↑

Groundwater Flooding No Change↔

• Projections indicate an increase in sea levels of up to 0.23 m by 2050 which will increase the frequency of coastal flooding for County Clare.

• Rising sea level is strongly linked with increases in rates and extents of coastal erosion.

• Projections indicate an increase in the frequency of heavy rainfall days for County Clare which will likely result in an increased frequency of associated river and surface water flooding.

• Projections of changes in groundwater flooding are currently not available, therefore there is uncertainty in the change in groundwater flooding frequency that can be expected in the future.

FUTURE CLIMATE RISKS

THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF FUTURE RISKS FROM CLIMATE HAZARDS WILL BE INCREASED BY THE SOCIOECONOMIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC GROWTH THAT COUNTY CLARE IS EXPECTED TO UNDERGO IN THE FUTURE. THE INCREASING RISK FROM HAZARDS WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON COUNTY CLARE IN TERMS OF PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES AFFECTED AND DAMAGE AND DISRUPTION TO ASSETS AND THE ECONOMY.

As a result of both the changes in the hazard frequency and severity due to climate change and the population and development changes the future climate risks for County Clare will change. Figure 10 shows the change in climate risks for each of the hazards experienced within County Clare.

The risk of existing hazards such as river, pluvial, and coastal flooding and coastal erosion is projected to increase in the future. This potentially will result in harm to health and wellbeing of people, damage to buildings and assets, and negative impacts on the environment, such as reductions in water quality. The risk from heatwaves and droughts will also increase in the future impacting upon people and economic activity as a result of water shortages or restrictions and damage assets, such as the melting of road surfaces.

The risk from severe windstorms is thought to be unchanged in the future, these events will remain a risk for County Clare creating issues relating to damage of assets and transport disruption. The risk of groundwater flooding is also unchanged in the future, however, there is uncertainty associated with how climate change will impact the occurrence of this hazard.

The impact of heavy snowfall and cold spells on County Clare remains constant in the future, however, due to the potential decrease in hazard frequency, the overall risk of these hazards is likely to reduce in the future, resulting in less risk overall, however, this hazard still has potential to damage assets, cause transport disruption and impact upon people’s health and wellbeing and will require an emergency response.

Figure 10: The current and future risk in 2050 for the hazards occurring in County Clare with the level of risk represented by the size of the bar

CURRENT RISK 2050 RISK

How can the pressure for development in areas facing climate risks such as coastal flooding be managed?

Challenges for Climate Adaptation

The Climate Change Risk Assessment provides an understanding of the risks posed by climate change for County Clare and can inform actions that Clare County Council can take to increase resilience and reduce the risk from these hazards. Possible actions include:

Action Type Action

Organisational

• Incorporate climate change impacts into Major Emergency Risk Assessment.

• Undertake and implement a Business Continuity Plan to identify and address specifically, the impacts associated with extreme weather events

• Develop a surface water management plan for the assessment and management of flood risks

• Undertake a climate change risk assessment of the Heritage and Cultural Assets in the county

Community

• Integrate climate considerations into the design, planning and construction of all roads, footpaths, bridges etc.

• Raise awareness and understanding of the impacts of climate change on communities and the local economy in the County

• Facilitate sustainable and climate resilient economic development

• Provide grants to support communities identify, develop and implement projects to improve resilience

HAVE YOUR SAY ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CLARE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN

In order to ensure that local based information is included, Clare County Council are inviting observations and recommendations for consideration in the in the draft Climate Action Plan.

Submissions will be accepted from May 22nd to June 23rd and can be submitted online, by email or in writing with details provided below:

• Online: You can submit your feedback via the online survey 'Clare Local Authority Climate Action Plan Survey' which is available on the Clare County Councils engagement platform: https://yoursay.clarecoco.ie/.

• Email: You can submit your feedback via email to climate@clarecoco.ie.

• Writing: You can submit your feedback in writing to

The Climate Action Officer, Climate Department, Physical Development Directorate, Buttermarket Building, Drumbiggle Road, Ennis, Co. Clare, V95RR72