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.

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