Research and Innovation
Research and Innovation
Introduction
Research and Innovation are important enablers in meeting our goals. High-quality research is vital in providing a robust, timely and effective evidence-base for policy across all activities and in providing the basis for the product, process, behavioural change and organisational innovation required in the transformation to a climate neutral and sustainable Ireland. Addressing climate change is a fundamental, complex and multi-faceted issue for society. It is intrinsically linked to a range of environmental and sustainability challenges and commitments including transforming our energy and food systems, creating a circular economy and bioeconomy, ensuring we have clean air, water and soils, protecting and restoring our biodiversity and adapting our society and infrastructure to climate change impacts. Research and Innovation will also be a key element across all sectors and disciplines in identifying solutions to climate change and wider environment and sustainability challenges.
Climate Action Plan 2023
CAP 23 included a dedicated Chapter on Research and Innovation. Several areas of strategic importance for climate related research and innovation were identified. These included: Expertise, Knowledge and Evidence; Climate Science and Research Infrastructures; Systems Research and Modelling; Technology and Innovation; Supporting Delivery at Local Level and Ensuring a Just Transition; Policy Monitoring and Evaluation; Research Networks and Co-ordination; Climate Finance and Climate Communications. A number of key actions were also set out in the Plan.
2024 Climate Action Plan
Climate Action Plan 2024 will set out a comprehensive and ambitious whole-of-Government agenda. It is important to ensure that the best scientific evidence and advice continues to be available to underpin Government climate policy and action. In doing so, the collective impact of research and innovation in meeting climate targets needs to be maximised. The following consultation questions relate to areas that the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications is considering as it identifies actions that will form part of the forthcoming Climate Action Plan 2024.
Consultation Questions
- Are the required research and innovation programmes and structures in place to support our climate ambitions; including in relation to the areas of strategic importance identified in Chapter 4 of CAP23?
- Are the required mechanisms and structures in place to ensure the provision of the evidence needed to underpin policy in a timely manner? How can this be improved?
- Have you identified any research and innovation gaps which need to be addressed? If so, how can these gaps best be addressed?
- Are there important areas of research and innovation, where Ireland currently does not have sufficient capability, that need to be developed? If so, what are these areas?
- Is the research and innovation system developing and retaining the skills needed to deliver on our climate ambitions?