The Climate Change Advisory Council suggests that the Government may be undervaluing the substantial contribution of biodiversity in combating the risk of ecosystem failure in Ireland, as well as mitigating the effects of climate change. It emphasises the potential danger that Ireland’s economic growth, food supply and overall well-being could face unless initiatives for biodiversity are coordinated with climate priorities, according to the council’s yearly biodiversity assessment.
Whilst it recognises some positive signs, such as enhanced legal responsibilities and objectives, there is a consensus that current efforts and resources directed towards preservation and rejuvenation of nature are grossly insufficient. The council advocates for an inclusive strategy that covers climate change management by coordinating policies, goals, practical initiatives, and mutual timelines across carbon emissions reduction, resilience-building adaptation to predicted climate outcomes, and actions for biodiversity preservation.
The council encourages the setting of bold practical objectives within the forthcoming national plan to restore nature, supported by a substantial immediate boost in funding for the fourth national plan for biodiversity action. They assert that a plausible strategy to safeguard at least 30% of Ireland’s land and water bodies by 2030 is necessary.
The chairwoman of the Council, Marie Donnelly, stated the need for enhanced financial aid to put a stop to and reverse biodiversity decline through effective execution of the national biodiversity action plan and the proposed national restoration plan. She emphasised that application of nature-focused strategies must be intensified for the dual benefit of biodiversity and climate.
To realise this, it remains crucial for the Government to develop a cohesive land use strategy that bolsters climate, biodiversity, and water objectives, drawing from extensive spatial data. It necessitates a joint effort across government departments and state bodies to supervise integration of nature-based remedies across a variety of sectors including urban planning and revival, flood protection, agricultural, forestry, fishing, and marine and coastal management sectors.
Council member, Prof Yvonne Buckley of Trinity College Dublin, voiced the necessity to optimise the role of ecosystem restoration in cutting emissions, trapping carbon, and enhancing resilience to climatic changes.
The recovery of peatlands is a clear case, but it’s equally critical to safeguard and restore various other ecosystems, particularly those in coastal and upland regions. As the original text mentions, nature-inspired solutions are readily available to combat climate change.
There is a pivotal need to comprehend and adjust to climate change’s effects on ecosystems. The government, in partnership with the wider scientific community, should establish a committed research programme to accomplish this.
Supporting farmers with long-lasting, results-based financial aid will allow them to embrace eco-friendly methods and improve biodiversity in their fields, according to the report. To meet climate, biodiversity, and water objectives, the government must establish an interconnected land use strategy.
Addressing the climate and biodiversity crisis calls for a consolidated and integrated method. The report highlights that while climate change significantly contributes to biodiversity loss, the remedy lies in ecosystem recovery and protection, which brings significant climatic advantages such as decreased emissions and stronger resilience to climate change impacts.
The panel commends recent policy developments, including the EU nature restoration law. When implemented, the climate action plans set to be published in the first part of 2024 will allow local governments to make significant strides in actions that have a positive impact on both biodiversity and the climate.
The newly established €3.15 billion fund for infrastructure, climate, and nature should allocate enough resources to safeguard and recover carbon-rich habitats on land and underwater. The government needs to create a comprehensive land-use plan that supports climate, biodiversity, and water objectives. This strategy should be based on thorough habitat and biodiversity data and a transparent space-specific land use planning structure.
Additionally, the government should consider how domestic policies may have adverse effects on climate and biodiversity in foreign countries to prevent the transference of issues.