Built & Archaeological Heritage Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan

In May 2019, Ireland became the second country to declare a climate emergency.

To address climate change impacts, the Irish government established a National Adaptation Framework (NAF) through the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015. The 2019 NAF includes 12 sectoral plans, one of which focuses on built and archaeological heritage.

This plan presents a number of case studies which illustrate the impacts of climate change on Ireland’s heritage and it has been developed with input from research, experts, stakeholders, and the public. It addresses the impacts of climate change on Ireland's diverse heritage, including both protected and unprotected assets. The plan prioritizes adaptation to flooding, storm damage, coastal erosion, and other risks, aiming to build adaptive capacity, reduce vulnerability, and seize opportunities. It outlines five key goals, including improving heritage understanding, developing sustainable policies, conserving heritage, communicating knowledge, and leveraging heritage for resource acquisition.