Human-induced climate change is a global issue and is the primary environmental challenge of this century. Increased levels of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide act to enhance the natural greenhouse effect and accelerate irreversible changes in the climate.
What is distinctive about the current period of global warming, compared to previous cycles of climate change, is the extent and rate of change, which exceeds natural variation. The impacts of climate change present very serious global risks and threaten the basic components of life, including health, access to water, food production and the use of land. As the earth gets warmer the damage from climate change will accelerate.
The Climate Change Programme in the EPA encompasses numerous responsibilities including:
Emissions Trading Scheme Emissions Trading Registry National Allocation Plans Kyoto Protocol Flexible Mechanisms Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventories and Projections Climate Change Research Programme Air and Climate Science
The EPA funds several research projects to help improve the accuracy of our estimates of greenhouse gas emissions in Ireland. The EPA is also part of the International Carbon Observation Systems (ICOS) programme, with monitoring stations at Mace Head, Malin Head and Carnsore Point.
In addition, the EPA undertakes local and regional air quality monitoring as part of its national Air Quality Monitoring Programme. The EPA also undertakes transboundary monitoring at a number of key sites in Ireland in conjunction with key stakeholders such as Met Éireann.
