Publication
National Adaptation Framework (NAF)
From Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
Published on
Last updated on
Ireland's first statutory National Adaptation Framework (NAF) was published by Minister Denis Naughten TD on 19 January 2018. The NAF sets out the national strategy to reduce the vulnerability of the country to the negative effects of climate change and to avail of positive impacts. The NAF was developed under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015.
The NAF builds on the work already carried out under the National Climate Change Adaptation Framework (NCCAF, 2012). The NAF outlines a whole of government and society approach to climate adaptation in Ireland. It also aims to improve the enabling environment for adaptation through ongoing engagement with civil society, the private sector, and the research community.
Chapter 1 provides a summary of observed and projected global climate change and the international and European policy drivers for adaptation to climate change. It also provides a summary of observed and projected climate change impacts in Ireland.
Chapter 2 sets out the progress to date on climate change adaptation planning in Ireland, including work undertaken at sectoral and local government level and initiatives involving civil society and the research community.
Chapter 3 provides a number of guiding principles for adaptation at national level. It includes steps for creating an enabling environment for adaptation planning. It sets out the sectors requiring the preparation of adaptation plans under the NAF, along with proposals for local authority or regional level adaptation strategies.
Chapter 4 outlines how the Framework will be implemented with revised governance and reporting arrangements as well as actions and supporting objectives to be progressed.
The 2015 Climate and Low Carbon Development Act (the Climate Act) requires that the National Adaptation Framework (NAF) be reviewed at least every five years. The NAF review process took place in 2022 with feedback sought from key Sectoral, Department and Agency stakeholders. The review also included a public consultation which was held from May to July, feedback from which was incorporated in the subsequent recommendation to the Minister. A summary report on the consultation is available here.
The Review also examined progress made in implementing actions and objectives under the 2018 NAF, legislative changes to the Climate Act in 2021 and submissions by the Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) into the review process. The Review also takes account of key developments at International and EU level, notably the publication of the IPCC Working Group I and II reports, the agreement and publication of the new 2021 EU Adaptation Strategy, and feedback on current Adaptation policy in Ireland. A Report on the NAF Review was approved by Minister Ryan in October 2022, and recommends the development of a new NAF in 2023.