Minister Ryan welcomes Government decision to join the EU Integrated Carbon Observation System – to improve management of our greenhouse gas budgets

• Ireland joins the EU Integrated Carbon Observation System – European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ICOS-ERIC)
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated as the ICOS National Focal Point – to co-ordinate and manage Ireland’s engagement with the network

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, has welcomed the government decision to join the EU Integrated Carbon Observation System – European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ICOS-ERIC or ICOS). This will enable the State to consolidate and develop high-quality scientific climate measurements, so that we can manage our greenhouse gas budgets more effectively.

The move follows close consultation with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, whose departments and agencies will work closely with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in establishing and maintaining ICOS in Ireland.

ICOS consists of a network of greenhouse gas measurement sites across Europe, currently in 14 countries, with Ireland to be the fifteenth. It produces high-precision, long-term scientific greenhouse gas measurements at each site. These climate observations help to improve our understanding of greenhouse gas emissions sources and their uptake by so-called carbon sinks in our forests, soils and seas. The observations also give insights into the human and natural causes of both emissions and sinks, and provide the knowledge and evidence base to inform climate policy to more effectively manage our national carbon budgets.

As part of this process the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be designated as the ICOS National Focal Point to co-ordinate and manage Ireland’s engagement with the network. The EPA will link activities (and related research) in Ireland with activities across the ICOS network and will contribute to the overall governance and development of the network.

Commenting on this announcement, Minister Ryan said:

ENDS

Requirement for Environmental Observations

Climate change is recognised as the major global threat for human and natural systems. The observed changes in the planet’s climate are transforming the world with Ireland itself experiencing recent record-breaking temperatures.

Evidence for the changes in our climate system is reliant on a wide range of high-quality environmental observations based on detailed monitoring across atmospheric, oceanic and terrestrial domains. Ireland has committed to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which involves carrying out climate observations including measurements of greenhouse gas concentrations which are caused by emissions and oceanic and terrestrial removals.

Ireland’s measurement of greenhouse gases

The EPA has worked over many years to develop a network of sites in Ireland for the measurement of greenhouse gases. These observation sites collect data on the main greenhouse gases from key systems, including grasslands, peatlands, forests, coastal areas and the North Atlantic. The sites have been established and operated by a range of State bodies including the EPA, Teagasc, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and Met Éireann. Measurements from these sites are complemented by data from space-based observations such as those provided by the EU Copernicus system.

The role of ICOS

The Integrated Carbon Observation System European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ICOS for short) is the European network of these observation sites. Ireland’s membership of the ICOS network will ensure the application of internationally standardised monitoring protocols in Ireland. It will also enable alignment with observations conducted in other EU and neighbouring states and facilitate participation in data analysis and the publication of results. It will also help to provide robust scientific evidence to inform policy on the management of greenhouse gas emissions.

EPA role in coordinating climate science

The EPA has had a long history of coordinating climate science in Ireland and internationally through involvement with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The EPA operates a number of climate monitoring stations across the country and coordinates activities with other state bodies working on climate science. These include Met Éireann, Teagasc, DAFM Forest Service, the Marine Institute and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The EPA also leads Ireland’s international efforts through engagement with the IPCC and has provided direct funding to support the IPCC’s work, hosted expert meetings on climate science and established research posts at universities in Ireland to support the development of climate science.