Research Area: Environment, Climate & Sustainability

  • Valuing and Accounting for Nature in Ireland: Embedding the Natural Capital Approach and Natural Capital Accounting in Irish Policy for the Benefit of People and Planet

    Valuing and Accounting for Nature in Ireland: Embedding the Natural Capital Approach and Natural Capital Accounting in Irish Policy for the Benefit of People and Planet

    This briefing paper has been commissioned from Natural Capital Ireland (NCI) by the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) as part of the project Accounting for Nature in Ireland to inform policymakers in advance of three roundtables on natural capital and natural capital accounting. NCI is a not-for-profit organisation leading the national conversation on natural capital. It is a group of organisations and individuals from academia and the public, private and NGO sectors, committed to the development and application of the natural capital approach to policy and decision-making.

    The mission is to value, protect and restore Ireland’s natural capital and ecosystem services, by supporting the adoption of the natural capital approach in public policy and corporate strategy, promoting informed public and private sector decision-making, and assisting in the establishment of a national natural capital accounting standard.

  • Just Transition in Agriculture and Land Use

    Just Transition in Agriculture and Land Use

    The agriculture and land use sector can increasingly be a part of the solution to address urgent climate change and biodiversity loss.

    Ireland has committed to a national climate objective of transitioning to a climate-resilient, biodiversity-rich and climate-neutral economy by no later than the end of 2050 (Government of Ireland, 2021a). All sectors are required to contribute. For agriculture, a 25 per cent reduction in emissions is required by 2030, with the target for land use and land-use change to be put in place following the completion of the Government’s Land Use Review.

    This NESC report argues that tackling the environmental challenge must be addressed together with the intersecting economic and social challenges.

    The starting point for the ambitious transition that is required is a vision that all stakeholders can agree to work collectively towards. The journey towards this vision must be underpinned by a commitment to continuous learning and will be supported by a just transition process focused on a transition within, not out of, agriculture. NESC identifies the benefit of an inclusive engagement process to develop and deepen a sense of shared purpose for the sector’s transition based upon clear, coherent and consistent communications.

  • Exploring Shared Opportunities in the North West: Findings from Focus Groups

    Exploring Shared Opportunities in the North West: Findings from Focus Groups

    NESC has been undertaking a Shared Island research programme to contribute to building a shared knowledge base and understanding about possible ways in which greater co-operation can emerge across a number of economic, social and environmental areas on the island of Ireland. As part of this work a place-based inquiry was undertaken in the North West to explore in-depth the ways in which co-operation worked, the barriers and the enablers. The focus was on the lived experience of people in the border areas, with the aim of exploring two integrated thematic issues – sustainability and connectivity.

    To gain a more in-depth understanding of the issues and elements of co-operation in the North West four online focus groups were held in September/October 2021, facilitated by Caitríona Mullan, on: Good Jobs; Green Transformation; Poverty and Mental Health; and Mechanisms for Co-operation. Approximately 60 individuals from across a range of civic, public, community/voluntary, and business sector organisations in the North West participated in these focus groups.

  • Exploring Place-based Opportunities for Policy and Practice in Transition

    Exploring Place-based Opportunities for Policy and Practice in Transition

    Delivering effective regional development in a context of decarbonising the economy is not just challenging economically but raises the issue of social justice and equity. Ensuring a ‘just transition’ that appropriately addresses the needs and harnesses the potential of particular communities is therefore critical.

    This commissioned research paper from Dr Niamh Moore Cherry and colleagues (UCD) explores placebased approaches to just transition in Ireland and the potential for adopting co-creation methodologies to identifying and implementing pathways to change. It draws on three case studies to understand perspectives on, and pathways towards, more climate-resilient and equitable futures in three areas outside the major metropolitan areas.