Information from Governance Regulation reporting on adaptation (2023, 2021)

The health sector is covered in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 (Climate Act, 2015), the National Adaptation Strategy (NAS, 2017) and the Climate Action Plan 2023 (2022). The Climate Action Plan’s chapter on adaptation contains 20 actions to be undertaken in 2023 categorised under priority areas, one of which is Climate resilience in health. Mainstreaming of adaptation action into general policy areas, including health, was a clear focus in Climate Action Plan’s adaptation actions.

The Health Sectoral Adaptation Plan (SAP, 2018) was developed under the National Adaptation Framework (established under the Climate Act) by the Department of Health in line with the requirements of the Climate Act. The SAP identifies the key risks faced across the sector and the approach being taken to address these risks and build climate resilience for the future. The SAP was developed applying a six-step adaptation planning process described in the (National) Sectoral Planning Guidelines for Climate Change Adaptation. Vulnerability and risk analysis are required in sectoral plans as set out in Sectoral Guidelines for Climate Change Adaptation, which will be reviewed in 2023.

Climate Action Regional Offices (CAROs) assist local government to develop and implement climate action measures, and to build capacity within the sector, i.e. health, to respond and adapt to climate change. CAROs played a key role in coordinating the development of the local authority adaptation strategies, ensuring alignment with SAPs. 

Information from EEA report. Climate change and health: the national policy overview in Europe (2022)

National policies on climate change adaptation and national health strategies were analysed to identify the coverage of climate-related impacts on health (physical, mental, and social) and the types of interventions addressing them. The report provides a European overview, while the geographical coverage of various aspects of national policies across Europe can be visualized using the map viewer. The results for Ireland are summarised here.

Policy documents reviewed:

National adaptation framework (2018)

Health. Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan 2019-2024. Prepared under the National Adaptation Framework  

Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan 2021-2025

Aspects covered in the reviewed policy document:

Information from EU official reporting on adaptation. GovReg reporting (2021), MMR reporting (2019)

The National Adaptation Framework (2018) identifies twelve sectors required to prepare adaptation plans by 30 September 2019. Sectoral plans are grouped under four thematic areas, one of which is Public Health. The department of health prepared the sectoral adaptation plan for health for 2019-2024. The sectoral plans describe and assess the extent of the risks presented by climate change to the sector, and present contingency plans to address these risks and ensure climate resilience of the sector. They include actions to mainstream adaptation into policy and administration at the sectoral level. In addition, they include actions to improve cooperation and coherence across other sectors and with the Local Government sector. For example, actions in the Clare County Council Local Adaptation Strategy are grouped around the six themes of Local Adaptation Governance and Business Operations, Infrastructure and Built Environment, Land use and Development, Drainage and Flood Management, Natural Resources and Cultural Infrastructure, Community Health and Wellbeing.

Resources in the Observatory catalogue on Ireland