MaREI Climate Brochure

Energy Climate Marine

Climate Action

INTRODUCTION MaREI is the world-leading Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine, coordinated by the Environmental Research Institute (ERI) at University College Cork. MaREI has over 200 researchers across 13 partner institutes in Ireland working with 80 industry partners focussing on the energy transition, climate action and the blue economy. MaREI delivers excellent research with societal impact by supporting industry, informing policy and empowering society. Through the provision of underlying research and innovation, and the training of the highly skilled leaders of tomorrow, MaREI is facilitating Ireland’s transition to a low-carbon, climate resilient future.

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Multi-disciplinary Researchers

Institutional Partners

Collaborating Countries

Climate action means stepped-up efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-induced impacts, including: climate-related hazards in all countries; integrating climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning; and improving education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity with respect to climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.

(UN SDG13 definition).

MaREI undertakes EXCELLENT RESEARCH in climate action focussing on climate science, climate mitigation, climate adaptation and the societal dimensions of climate change. In each of these areas, our researchers advance beyond the current state of the art, contributing new methods and new knowledge. This research excellence is acknowledged and recognised in a number of ways – our research leaders are amongst the top cited globally in each of their fields, win scientific prizes, are invited to give keynote lectures and participate in scientific committees and working groups, nationally and internationally.

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MaREI research is also INFORMING POLICY, by increasing and improving the scientific evidence base for policy-makers and translating research findings into policy insights. Through engagement with key stakeholder groups MaREI is helping to develop capacity and facilitate participatory action and training in key policy areas.

Our research also looks at how science and knowledge can inform a robust policy framework for implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Through collaborative research, MaREI is SUPPORTING INDUSTRY to develop new technologies, to reduce their carbon footprint and to underpin their strategic planning. By enhancing the capacity of industry across the energy, climate, and marine sectors, MaREI is enabling sustainable economic development, including the creation of new products, services, companies, and jobs.

Global challenges can only be addressed successfully with the support and involvement of civil society. To this end, MaREI is EMPOWERING SOCIETY by continually building expertise in stakeholder engagement and collaborative trans-disciplinary research to facilitate societal engagement through research, education and outreach, training, community-based initiatives, and consultative and participatory frameworks.

MaREI is part of the new All-Island Climate and Biodiversity Research Network (AICBRN). This major initiative brings together leading research centres across the whole island of Ireland to tackle the climate and biodiversity emergency. Researchers from all the centres across the network have come together to work with national, regional and local governments, industry and communities to effectively deliver solutions to climate, biodiversity and social challenges caused by global warming.

Climate change is a complicated challenge that requires an unprecedented diverse, yet integrated, range of solutions from all sectors of our society. At MaREI we recognise this need for collaboration, and have engaged many different stakeholders to co-develop and co-create innovative solutions that are implementable, and make a difference to our understanding of climate change. This booklet focuses on MaREI’s recent and ongoing research in the context of climate action ​and presents examples of the extent of MaREI’s activities in meeting the challenges of climate change. Research activities of the Centre are categorised under fundamental CLIMATE SCIENCE, MITIGATION, ADAPTATION AND ENGAGEMENT – and include examples illustrating the excellence of the Centre’s scientific endeavour. Much of the work of the Centre is delivered in partnership and this is reflected in the portfolio of research projects presented here – and on our website – www. marei.ie.

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CLIMATE SCIENCE Climate science is fundamental to our understanding of how we are to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change. Robust monitoring programmes and analysis of historical datasets, as well as developing better capacity in modelling and analysis to produce reliable projections are required to underpin decisions on mitigation and adaptation. MaREI is engaged in climate science research that is critical to reducing uncertainty regarding past and future climate change.

MaREI researchers at Mace Head Atmospheric Research Station participate within international monitoring networks collecting data on essential climate variables, this data informs the global view of climate change and how it may evolve, and can be used to guide adaptation and mitigation measures by the international community and individual countries.

MaREI scientists are using remote sensing technologies deployed from space to seafloor to help understand how the global oceans are changing as a result of climate.

Our research extends from using robotic technologies to automate the investigation and maintenance of sub-sea and offshore infrastructure critical to Ireland’s transition to renewables, to using satellite data from space to obtain information on how ocean temperature and biomass are changing and the implications of these changes for ocean health and the blue economy.

MaREI researchers are also engaged in frontier research focused on increasing our understanding of the physics and dynamics of breaking ocean waves to develop more accurate operational wave models. The ability to quantify CO₂ transfer velocities is key to predicting future climate. Such models can improve wave forecasting models, improve criteria for the design of ships and coastal and offshore infrastructures, and in the case of coastal environments help to quantify seabed erosion by powerful breaking waves and quantify air-sea gas transfer. As an island, Ireland is particularly susceptible to impacts of sea level rise and storm surges – so science than can support decision-making on how we tackle rising seas will be critical to the well-being of citizens within coastal cities and communities.

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Climate Science necessitates the capture and analysis of data to better understand climate change impacts; MaREI researchers are instrumental in national and international initiatives focused on long term data measurements covering our oceans, atmosphere and terrestrial systems. Researchers in the Centre are also involved in the development of novel methods of analysis, in many cases using new technologies and platforms (e.g. Copernicus the European Union’s Earth Observation (EO) Programme and related Sentinel satellite missions) to advance our understanding of how global systems are responding to climate change, while also using long-term observational information and data for over 40 variables to assess changes to Ireland’s climate. Examples of key scientific developments achieved by MaREI researchers include: (i) Building a community of practice around the use of EO-derived sea level and altimetry data applied to the development of better prediction services to protect coastal communities and citizens against storm surge impacts, crucially MaREI work with all stakeholders from data providers, product/service developers and end users. (ii) Development of a first of a kind app- StreamAIR –which provides current real-time data to a range of agencies and networks, fusing together real time observations and forecast date on multiple platforms, including mobile devices. (iii) Advancing smart technology application to sub-sea operations, paving the way for safer and more efficient offshore services that will facilitate our transition to a low carbon society through the expansion of sustainable ocean energy in our marine waters. (iv) Providing decision-support and planning tools to support the blue economy as it adapts to climate change, particularly in relation to the aquaculture industry.

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SCIENCE

CLIMATE SCIENCE - FRONTIER RESEARCH

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MaREI researchers at Mace Head Atmospheric Research Station monitor the long-term trends of atmospheric composition change, essential climate variables and air pollution, and facilitate key-research into the evolution of atmospheric composition and its impacts on climate change. Understanding how our atmosphere is behaving in response to human derived emissions is fundamental to how we measure and predict the impacts of climate change and develop appropriate responses through policy and planning for climate action. Marine aerosol particles are extremely important to the Earth’s climate by directly absorbing and scattering sunlight and by forming clouds, which reflect incoming sunlight and precipitate freshwater. When these low-level marine clouds reflect sunlight, they provide a cooling effect, which lowers the net-global temperature. Frontier research undertaken at Mace Head looks at how cloud formation is influenced by polluting particulate matter in the atmosphere and by ocean chemistry and seasonal ocean changes affects.

Observational monitoring and research outputs underpin the development of smart and co-beneficial policies for clean air and climate change. The Mace Head facility is unique in a number of ways: it has one of the longest observational datasets for monitoring gases in the atmosphere such as ozone, methane and carbon dioxide; its geographical position means it is ideally placed to measure some of Europe’s cleanest air (coming in from the Atlantic) and possibly some of the most polluted (coming from Europe); and, researchers at the facility have developed Europe’s first interactive air pollution app to allow all citizens to access essential information about the levels and nature of air pollution in their area in real time, along with air pollution forecasts.

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SCIENCE

CASE STUDY 1 – UNDERSTANDING CLIMATE AND ATMOSPHERE

CASE STUDY 2 – REMOTE SENSING OF OUR ENVIRONMENT Much of the information used to better understand global and planetary systems is sourced from remotely deployed sensors that gather data from inaccessible and harsh environments, and at a scale or rate that is not possible by other means. Researchers at MaREI are engaged in numerous initiatives that use innovative cutting-edge science and technology to capture information on ocean and land environments – which range from deep-sea robotic vehicles or satellites in space. Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) offer tremendous value in advancing our roadmap to a low carbon future. ROVs can be deployed to assist in the construction and maintenance of offshore renewable energy structures; and, they can act as observatories of opportunity while being deployed, collecting biotic and abiotic data to support our understanding of how oceans and marine life are changing, and providing insights into the correlation between extreme events and climate-related changes.

MaREI researchers are harnessing the potential of ROVs and combining their use with emerging state-of-the-art Virtual Reality/ Augmented Reality technologies and Machine Learning, imaging improvements, and new scientific sensors – leading to incredible advancements of how we can use ocean resources in a sustainable manner. Similarly, MaREI researchers are also harnessing the immense opportunity afforded by satellite data to monitor, analyse and understand how climate change is impacting different environments. MaREI researchers are using satellite data to observe changes in the physical and chemical properties of our oceans, capture how our ocean temperature is being altered, and monitoring offshore winds and currents - these findings are of critical importance to the blue economy and for planning sustainable use of the ocean for fisheries, energy, shipping, and aquaculture under climate change.

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SCIENCE

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As our climate changes we are going to experience more extreme and intense storms that will result in powerful waves and flooding. The former can cause coastal erosion while the latter is often a result of “storm surges”, an above normal rise in sea level due to storm activity – both will impact maritime operations and coastal communities. As part of the Breaking of highly energetic waves (HIGHWAVE) project, researchers at MaREI are developing an innovative approach to include accurate wave breaking physics into coupled sea state and ocean weather forecasting models. This research will: inform improved design of ships and coastal/offshore infrastructure; quantify erosion by powerful breaking waves; and, lead to new concepts in wave measurement with improved characterisation of wave breaking using real-time instrumentation. In relation to storm surges, MaREI researchers assisted in the development of, and continue to contribute to the e-Surge tool – a support system using Earth Observation data to assist operational and experimental storm surge forecasting and warning services.

The e-Surge tool also has the capacity to re-analyse storm surge events so learnings can be incorporated into future response systems, providing users - such as European meteorological services and agencies of the United Nations – with added capacity to plan and mitigate future events.

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SCIENCE

CASE STUDY 3 – SEA-STATE AND WAVES

CLIMATE MITIGATION Climate mitigation refers to efforts to reduce or prevent emission of greenhouse gases to limit the rate of climate change. It involves reducing the flow of heat-trapping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, either by reducing sources of these gases including the burning of fossil fuels for electricity, heat or transport, or by enhancing the “sinks” that accumulate and store these gases (such as the oceans, forests and soil).

The goal of mitigation is to stabilize greenhouse gas levels in a timeframe sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt to climate change, and to enable societal and economic development to progress in a sustainable manner.

In MaREI we address climate mitigation by increasing the evidence base underpinning climate and energy policy decisions, by supporting industry to decarbonise and develop new renewable energy technologies, by enabling energy demand reduction and the decarbonisation of buildings, and by researching the role of bioenergy in circular bioeconomy systems.

MaREI has provided insights to Government Departments on climate mitigation from medium and long-term energy systems, which helped to inform the National Mitigation Plan and Climate Action Plan which specify how we can meet our 2030 emissions reductions targets.

MaREI is supporting business to innovate and to decarbonise to enable climate mitigation. We support a number of large energy companies on the development of their decarbonisation strategies, and we collaborate with smaller companies to take their ideas from design and testing through to commercial reality.

We research advanced fuels and their role in the circular economy, and our research facilitates the development of roadmaps, including how Ireland can initiate a green gas industry, which would contribute to mandatory renewable energy targets for renewable heat and transport fuel.

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Energy systems models approach energy as a system rather than as a set of elements. This has the advantage of providing insights into the most important substitution options that are linked to the system as a whole and that cannot be understood when analysing a single technology, or commodity, or sector. Energy systems models provide technology rich, least cost future energy systems pathways and have been used extensively to explore least cost options for transitioning to a low carbon energy secure future. Key scientific developments achieved by MaREI researchers include: (i) Developing multi-modelling methods - new approaches to link different yet complementary modelling tools – in particular, MaREI is leading international activity in linking energy systems models with power systems models - modelling the long-term evolution in the energy system together with the short-term dynamics of operation with variable renewable electricity. (ii) New techniques for addressing uncertainty – developing a new scenario ensemble tool that facilitates Monte Carlo analysis for TIMES energy systems modelling – the approach applies VBA programming and allows the user to define inputs by lists or stochastic values. It then automates the process of generating, queueing, and solving the scenarios based on user defined values. (iii) Developing a new global hourly power system model entitled PLEXOS-World - this model is a first of a kind, allowing us to understand the detailed operation of most of the worlds power plants, and to determine how the power system must change to align with the Paris Agreement. The breakthrough is in terms of the model detail, size and complexity, as well as its openness and transparency.

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MITIGATION

CLIMATE MITIGATION - FRONTIER RESEARCH

CASE STUDY 1: ENERGY MODELLING AND DATA ANALYSIS Energy modelling and data analysis are powerful tools that can support Government in developing effective policies that deliver meaningful change and societal benefit. MaREI provides insights to Government departments on climate mitigation from medium and long-term energy systems modeling, which helped to inform Ireland’s first National Mitigation Plan and the all of Government Climate Action Plan - two instruments that will ensure we can meet our 2030 emissions reductions targets. Additional climate mitigation analysis conducted by MaREI scientists also informed the increased Government ambition that is being embedded in new climate legislation.

MaREI’s energy policy and modelling research provides a means of testing energy policy choices and scenarios, and of assessing the implications for the Irish economy and for Ireland’s energy mix and greenhouse gas emissions.

MaREI research findings were used to inform Ireland’s negotiations with the European Union (EU) regarding the 2030 emissions target for Ireland, and our collaborative research with the International Renewable Energy Agency also underpinned the EU decision in 2018 to increase its 2030 renewable energy target by 14% - a significant signal in terms of ambition to take climate action.

MaREl’s capabilities in the area focus on the development of advanced energy systems modelling techniques to explore low-carbon energy futures and associated technology opportunities across various scenarios of ambition, risk and cost. Complexities in modelling the energy system increase as more technologies are developed and introduced, and as the number of objectives and scale of ambition increases. This underscores the importance of energy systems modelling and the need to understand how all the elements fit together, and how we can meet our future energy needs at the least cost to society and the environment.

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MITIGATION

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MaREI is supporting business to innovate and to decarbonise to enable climate mitigation.

We support a number of large energy companies on the development of their decarbonisation strategies. For example, ESB’s new strategy focussing on electrification of heat and transport, and Ervia’s strategy to green the gas network - both are strongly underpinned by MaREI research. MaREI is also undertaking research with Irish Distillers, collaboratively analysing and designing emissions reduction strategies as part of the company’s strategy to lower their carbon footprint. The IBEC (Irish Business and Employers Confederation) roadmap ‘Building a low carbon economy: a roadmap for a sustainable Ireland in 2050’ is informed by MaREI’s low-carbon energy roadmap with expert analysis and advice; the roadmap will be a key support for Irish businesses and companies.

We collaborate with companies to enable them to translate ideas into economic activity and support smaller companies to take their ideas from design and testing through to commercial reality. In the EirWind project, 22 MaREI researchers worked collaboratively with 10 companies in Ireland’s offshore wind energy industry and produced a blueprint for the development of offshore wind in Ireland – a 30 year strategy outlining recommendations to inform policymaking and support ambitious targets in the Programme for Government for Ireland’s offshore wind industry.

MaREI has also worked with large energy users to reduce their carbon footprint. We supported the pharmaceutical plants in Cork Harbour to be more energy efficient and use wind energy on site to decarbonise their energy use; this landmark project has led to further collaboration on reduced energy use, and re-use of waste streams to move towards circular economy approaches.

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MITIGATION

CASE STUDY 2: DECARBONISING INDUSTRY

CASE STUDY 3 – ADVANCED FUELS IN THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY Our research on renewable resources points to a massive and untapped renewable energy potential particularly relating to offshore renewable energy all around Ireland. However our research on energy systems modelling highlights the challenges in integrating these variable resources and the intermittent electricity they generate into our power system. Biogas, biomethane, hydrogen and electro-fuel production can help address these engineering challenges, and MaREI is at the forefront of international research relating to these concepts. These fuels can also help us address energy uses that are difficult to electrify, like heat and transport.

Biogas can be produced and dispatched on demand and can be stored making it very flexible; when there is too much electricity generated from renewable sources, there is the option to convert surplus electricity to electrofuels; initially hydrogen, hydrogen may be reacted with carbon dioxide to generate synthetic methane which can be injected to the gas grid and used as a natural gas substitute and potentially on to liquid fuels such as methanol or ammonia. Thus bioenergy and biofuel systems integrate seamlessly into the future smart energy grid, acting as: an on demand source of energy when the wind is not blowing nor the sun shining; or as a biological battery when too much electricity is in the system producing gaseous and liquid fuels from electricity.

MaREI research on reducing the climate change impacts of transport also led us to a focus on biofuels, hydrogen and electro-fuels. While private car transport can be and is being (slowly) electrified, heavy goods vehicles, shipping and aviation are likely to require liquid or gaseous fuels and electro-fuels are seen as an emerging contender. As we seek to increase our ambition in climate action, the focus on green hydrogen produced from intermittent renewable electricity as part of the energy transition solutions of the future is growing strongly. Following workshops with stakeholders to share research insights on hydrogen, MaREI is developing a research programme to address some of the barriers and challenges, reduce costs and harness the opportunities and advantages that hydrogen offers.

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MITIGATION

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CLIMATE ADAPTATION Climate adaptation refers to society’s response to living with the impacts of climate change – how we can reduce the negative impacts and avail of opportunities that may arise. At all levels – global, European, national and local – climate adaptation is recognised as a key element of climate action, and is critical to how we live in the present day while planning for future change.

A number of policy and legislative instruments direct our implementation of climate adaptation; for Ireland this includes the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act (2015), the Climate Action Plan (2019) and the National Adaptation Framework (2018) and the New Programme for Government (2020). The National Adaptation Framework includes requirements for the preparation of sectoral adaptation plans (12 in total) and local adaptation strategies by individual local authorities.

Through the provision of fit-for-purpose climate information, guidance and insights, MaREI directly supports Government Department and Local Authorities in the development of science led adaptation plans.

Through research activity and the development of a wide range of tailored resources, MaREI has been instrumental in supporting national adaptation progress. Through its portfolio of recent and ongoing research projects, MaREI has worked with all levels of Government, sectoral bodies and communities and citizens to build capacity and inform decision-making for climate adaptation.

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CLIMATE ADAPTATION - FRONTIER RESEARCH Climate adaptation aims to reduce the negative impacts of climate change and also to take advantage of any opportunities presented by climate change – a process by which society can best prepare for the changes that lay ahead due to climate change. Climate adaptation involves many groups and sectors within society working towards common goals and objectives; MaREI has embraced the need for multi-actor collaboration for climate adaptation and has led initiatives involving local and national government, as well as those that are community and citizen focused. Our climate researchers are very much at the forefront of climate adaptation research and have been instrumental in providing the scientific basis for adaptation planning at local, regional and national levels. Climate adaptation relies on making the best use of available data and information to reduce uncertainties and strategically map the best routes forward. MaREI scientists use climate models which provide a means of projecting future climate conditions and provide the information that we need to plan for the future in terms of economic, social and environmental considerations, while also working with stakeholders to ensure local and tacit knowledge is brought into adaptation planning. Examples of key scientific developments achieved by MaREI researchers include: (i) Building capacity through the development of a state-of-the-art Climate Ireland platform providing scientific data, bespoke training and guidance materials to support local authorities, Government Departments and State agencies in the production of their adaptation plans. (ii) Production of scientific breakthroughs regarding Ireland’s adaptation needs in relation to urban planning and national risk assessments. MaREI scientists are also working with global partners to advance international knowledge exchange on planning for climate adaptation, recognising that the impacts of climate change do not adhere to jurisdictional boundaries. (iii) Development, and trialling, of ground breaking methods for community engagement on climate adaptation focused on participatory approaches, use of technologies such as gaming and geodesign, citizen science, and engaged research.

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ADAPTATION

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CASE STUDY 1 – CLIMATE IRELAND Climate Ireland is a national service that is funded by the Environmental Protection Agency and delivered by MaREI researchers . Climate Ireland’s remit is to support national adaptation to the impacts of climate change and specifically to enable Sectors (Government Departments) and Local Authorities to produce their respective Adaptation Plans.

This is achieved through the delivery of three main interrelated components: (i) Climate Ireland Online Platform (www.climateireland.ie): The Climate Ireland online platform is the national one-stop web-based source of climate and adaptation information. The platform provides information to increase awareness and understanding of climate change and adaptation (Getting Started), the climate and adaptation information required to develop adaptation plans (Information and Data), and tailored wizards and tools to support the development of adaptation plans in accordance with the best available information and data, national policy and guidance (Plan and Manage); (ii) Policy and Planning Support: Climate Ireland works directly with Government Departments and State Agencies to inform policy and develop policy and decision-making supports in line with international best practice and identified user needs. The Climate Ireland development Team authored local and sectoral guidelines for planning for climate change adaptation which have been employed by all of Ireland’s Government Departments and Local Authorities in the development of their adaptation plans; (iii) Capacity Building: Climate Ireland develops and delivers bespoke training programmes to support the development and implementation of local and sectoral adaptation strategies and plans. These programmes are developed in consultation with Government Departments, State Agencies and the Local Authority Sector.

As national adaptation implementation progresses, Climate Ireland continues to develop and evolve to serve the needs of policy makers and those tasked with the remit of instigating climate action in Ireland.

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CLIMATE ADAPTATION ADAPTATION

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CASE STUDY 2 – INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION The impacts of climate change will not adhere to jurisdictional boundaries, meaning it is important that we work across geographical regions to improve our understanding of appropriate and effective adaptation measures. Transnational working and international collaboration on adaptation is an essential, but relatively unexplored, approach to addressing climate action.

The 2015 Paris Agreement called for the international community to strengthen cooperation on enhancing action on adaptation. MaREI scientists are working with global partners to advance climate adaptation planning.

The Transboundary Adaptation Learning Exchange

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(TalX) project being led by MaREI brings together adaptation practitioners in Ireland and the UK to create an innovative, collaborative and learning network. Five case study jurisdictions (Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England) will participate in the network, all of which are subject to a similar range of climate change impacts but are at different stages of maturity in adaptation planning and implementation. This network will be employed to ‘sense test’ international best practice, learn from experiences of adaptation planning and up-skill adaptation decision-making across borders. In collaboration with project stakeholders,

ADAPTATION

recommendations will be developed for the continuous improvement of national, local and sectoral adaptation policy. MaREI is a core partner of the EU funded Stepping-Up Knowledge Exchange between Climate Adaptation Knowledge Platforms (KE4CAP) project, which is facilitating knowledge exchange on climate adaptation between Europe and other G20 countries – including Japan, Canada and Australia. MaREI expertise is being used to integrate disaster risk response and climate adaptation as part of the Enhancing Integration of Disaster Risk and Climate Change Adaptation (DRR) project. In a partnership involving the Irish Red Cross

and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, MaREI scientists are informing relevant institutions on ways to further climate-proof the emergency planning and risk management systems in Ireland to the increasing risks of extreme events linked to climate change.

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CASE STUDY 3 - ASSESSING RISK AND SUPPORTING RESILIENCE As an island where much of our population is located in coastal settlements – either our large cities or smaller rural villages and towns – adaptation to the impacts of climate change will be necessary to ensure the present day and future well-being of many communities. While climate impacts are generally well understood, research is required to better comprehend these impacts under different settings and scales. For example, while our urban areas generally experience the same exposure to climate change as the surrounding regions, these areas are considered to be at particular risk (e.g. flooding, droughts and excess heat) due to the unique processes of urbanisation. Within the Large Urban Area Adaptation (Urb-ADAPT) project, MaREI researchers worked with Ireland’s Eastern and Midlands Regional Assembly to assess the impacts of climate change on the Greater Dublin Area, identify vulnerabilities particular to these areas and identify specific climate action challenges facing urban areas; this information enabled the formulation of adaptation plans that are fit for purpose for urban settings. In more rural parts of our coast, MaREI researchers are working with communities to co-develop climate change adaptation plans, this involves close engagement with citizens and groups within these communities to capture a full understanding of activities, interactions and relationships that contribute to the functioning of their socio-environmental setting.

As part of the Building Coastal and Marine Resilience (BCOMAR) project, MaREI researchers are collaborating with rural communities to develop a participatory methodology for supporting bottom-up engagement in climate change adaptation. This model of collaborative adaptation planning will ensure that measures taken are matched to local needs and vulnerabilities and provides a blueprint for building greater resilience to climate change.

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ADAPTATION

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CLIMATE ENGAGEMENT In recent years there has been a significant increase in interest and policy focus on the role of citizens and communities in climate action and the energy transition to a low-carbon climate resilient future. There is now a universal recognition that in parallel to advancing climate research and development to enable Ireland to address the climate challenge, we must also develop a more strategic approach to stakeholder and public engagement with a focus on collaboration, participation and activation. This includes conducting dialogue on a structured basis so that “diverse elements of society can input into the process and become involved in delivering actions within their own sphere of influence” (Irish Government 2020).

The transition to a low carbon society requires effective engagement and collaboration between local people, communities and stakeholders.

Working with communities encourages active citizen participation, which contributes to citizen empowerment, and the development of social capital and social cohesion in addressing the climate challenge.

Citizens are central to much of the climate research undertaken by MaREI, and in many cases, community and civil society organisations are active collaborators in projects within the Centre. MaREI researchers have developed research approaches that are: grounded in engaged research; provide citizens and communities with a voice in the dialogue on climate action; introduce novel and innovative methods for the public to participate in planning for climate action; and, tailored to different demographics.

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CLIMATE ENGAGEMENT - FRONTIER RESEARCH There are many aspects to research focusing on the societal dimensions of the energy transition. Within MaREI, this research draws on grounded theory methods and the principles of transformational, participatory, and engaged research. The research methods are mostly qualitative and include extensive fieldwork within the realms of energy citizenship, and the policy and community energy arenas. Key scientific developments include: (i) Investigating a multi-stakeholder approach to the socio-technical transition to a low-carbon society – using action research to understand the merging of top-down and bottom-up approaches to transitions.

There are a number of key research aspects developed through this work, namely a participatory mapping exercise to generate qualitative social network analysis at the grassroots level, using a reflective process to explore the collaborative governance structure, outlining the diffusion of sustainability across the region and finally, analysing the experience of transdisciplinary research approaches. (ii) Energy citizenship – this involves a reconceptualisation of people’s relationship with energy, and the roles they are expected (or indeed permitted) to play in the energy transition. The developed perspective also represents a departure from the normative constructs of what it means to be a ‘good citizen’ in the energy domain. In so doing, it provides intellectual space for exploring the potential to realise participatory, inclusive, just – and importantly more socially acceptable – decarbonisation pathways. (iii) Investigating the potential role of volunteer organisations to provide a networking intermediary role surrounding community energy initiatives - the potential for locally embedded organisations to act as regime-based transition intermediaries - which are co-ordinated centrally but consist of nation-wide local factions built on volunteerism - to act as at the grassroots level to support the development and scaling up of projects in the community energy space. This research uses a mixed-method approach, combining data from qualitative exploratory interviews with community energy initiatives with quantitative data analysis of ‘Tidy Towns’ group scores in environmental competitions and qualitative interviews with Tidy Towns representatives.

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ENGAGEMENT

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CASE STUDY 1 – STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT MaREI has developed significant capacity and experience in engaged research methods and stakeholder engagement projects focussing on climate action. The Dingle Peninsula 2030 project is an innovative collaboration supporting a rural transition to a low carbon future. It is a multi-partner initiative on the Dingle Peninsula, Co. Kerry, involving the Dingle Creativity and Innovation Hub, ESB Networks, North East and West Kerry Development (NEWKD) and MaREI. The premise is based on the Quadruple Helix Model involving collaboration between science, policy, industry and society. MaREI and other organisations have been actively engaging with the local community, business, transport and farming sectors over the last few

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years to enable the broader societal changes required for a sustainable transition. To date this work has included establishing the Dingle Sustainable Energy Community, developing an Energy Master Plan, technology trials with local ambassadors, an education and outreach programme, and training of local energy mentors to support retrofitting and efficient use of energy. The project has also led to a feasibility study for an anaerobic digester, the initiation of a pilot Farm Ambassador Programme to increase agricultural sustainability and productivity, the emergence of a community energy cooperative and the development of plans for a sustainable transport initiative for the region.

ENGAGEMENT

Through engaged research with its Dingle Peninsula 2030 partners, MaREI is tracking, analysing, and documenting experiential learnings, and building capacity in transdisciplinary engaged research and stakeholder engagement.

MaREI has also initiated a new collaborative network of community engagement practitioners in public bodies relating to energy and climate action. Having hosted a number of workshops with semi-state agencies exploring community engagement approaches, challenges, barriers and opportunities, we are developing a programme to create space for dialogue between climate action engagement researchers, practitioners and policy

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makers. The aim is to promote and develop evidence informed public engagement policies and practices; drawing on the experience of citizens and communities, practitioner expertise, and research.

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MaREI is engaging with a variety of different communities on climate action – from looking at how digital tools and mapping exercises can engage people with change in Co. Dublin, building resilience in coastal communities along the west coast, to deploying novel support tools for community energy planning in the project ‘‘CrowdPower’’.

MaREI led the project ‘Responding to the Energy Transition in Ireland: The Experience and Capacity of Communities’. This research project engaged with community energy groups over a 3-year period and investigated how the development of community capacity to effectively engage in energy transitions might be supported.

MaREI researchers investigated the role of collective action as a means to address climate change and analysed existing social, institutional and infrastructural barriers to such action, noting number of relevant outcomes were communicated to policy and decision-makers: energy citizenship is an accepted ambition, but energy communities are struggling to operate and to upscale their activities; infrastructural support is emerging but needs more coherence and should respond more effectively to community needs; and, there is significant untapped potential within intermediary groups that are not directly associated with the energy transition but such volunteers need to be supported and adequately resourced. MaREI will continue to work with energy communities and policy makers to ensure barriers are identified and solutions co-developed within a framework that supports collaboration and engagement by all parties.

The Imagining 2050 project is developing innovative methods to engage with civil society using novel approaches to explore and co-develop future visions of, and pathways to, a low carbon and climate resilient future. Engagement methods employed included weekend workshops with community representatives using deliberative communication and decision-making, and interactive visualisation tools such as visioning and sense making, empathy mapping and community mapping, with final recommendations through a ballot process. A summary of insights gathered fed into a ‘Futures-Thinking Deliberations Toolkit.

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ENGAGEMENT

CASE STUDY 2 – COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

CASE STUDY 3 – ENGAGEMENT TO INFORM POLICY Science communication and engagement between science and policy is critical to the development and implementation of policy that yields societal benefit and well-being. MaREI has been working to harness and build on our successful engagement with policy makers through our innovative approaches to translating research findings on climate action into policy insights. The Communications and Engagement team within MaREI continue to work closely with our researchers to develop a range of new engagement outputs, including policy briefs, innovative infographics, visualisation platforms, resource toolkits, animations and videos tailored with specific messages.

MaREI’s researchers have ongoing engagement with policy makers at the highest levels of government. For example, in November 2019 MaREI researchers met with An Taoiseach and a delegation of government representatives to communicate key insights from our research on climate mitigation, adaptation and societal engagement which are central to addressing the challenges we face relating to climate change. Similarly, MaREI scientists have presented their research findings to Government Ministers, Oireachtas Committee Members, and the Oireachtas Library and Research Service where policy relevant findings and recommendations on climate action were communicated.

MaREI’s Our 2050 project on exploring Opportunities for Ireland in a Low Carbon Economy produced a series of policy briefs and a visualisation platform with scenario analysis enabling exploration of different energy futures.

The platform has been visited more than 4000 times and is currently being used for absorptive capacity building with civil servants in the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.

In 2019, MaREI collaborated with RTÉ, Ireland’s national broadcaster, on the RTÉ Youth Assembly on Climate in 2019, advising on topics, assisting with the selection process, and addressing questions from the young people as they prepared their submissions, and subsequently recommendations for presentation in the Dáil.

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ENGAGEMENT

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The research outlined in this document is enabled by the generous support of our funders and 75 industry partners. Science Foundation Ireland is the principal funding body of MaREI and our research projects are funded by the following funding bodies and programmes, listed alphabetically: Bord Iascaigh Mhara COST – European Cooperation in Science and Technology Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment Enterprise Ireland Environmental Protection Agency European Commission - Strategic Partnerships for the Implementation of the Paris Agreement European Maritime and Fisheries Fund European Regional Development Fund European Space Agency H2020 Programme INTERREG VA: Ireland-Wales INTERREG VA: United Kingdom-Ireland (Ireland-Northern Ireland-Scotland) INTERREG VB: Atlantic Area INTERREG VB: Northern Periphery and Arctic INTERREG VB: North West Europe INTERREG VC: Europe Ireland’s EU Structural and Investment Funds Irish Research Council JPI Climate JPI Oceans Marine Institute Science Foundation Ireland Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland

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MaREI, the SFI Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine Beaufort Building, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork marei.ie

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