Grave risk ecosystem collapse poses to Irish food security 'underestimated' says top body
The Climate Change Advisory Council says funding to restore biodiversity is 'inadequate' and farmers need more help to adopt nature-friendly practices
The grave risk that ecosystem collapse poses to Irish food security, our health and economic development has been "underestimated" according to a government advisory group. The Climate Change Advisory Council says that's because the funding and action needed to protect and restore nature has been "totally inadequate".
The unsettling comments follow the CCAC's annual review of biodiversity conservation.
While they welcomed additional government targets and legal obligations on nature they said accelerated action and implementation are needed urgently to protect ecosystems in a holistic approach to tackling the climate crisis.
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When ecologically sound, the likes of forests, grasslands and peatlands can help Ireland meet its emissions reduction targets as they store carbon, can reduce flooding, improve air and water quality and even limit greenhouse gases.
Irish leaders have agreed to protect at least 30 per cent of our lands and seas by 2030 but the state of our waters has not improved since 2022, with 27 per cent of rivers and 35 per cent of lakes suffering the impacts of elevated phosphorous. We've been referred to the European Court of Justice over failure to protect our peatlands from turf cutting while An Taisce's case against the government's Nitrates Action Plan has also been referred to the European Court for consideration.
Meanwhile, our forests and some peatlands are now emitting more carbon dioxide than they store, which is the opposite of what they are supposed to do and NPWS got less funding in the 2025 budget than the horse racing and greyhound industry.
The CCAC has called for ambitious biodiversity targets and costed measures in the Nature Restoration Plan and an urgent increase in funding for the fourth Biodiversity Action Plan with a credible plan to protect 30 per cent of land and sea.
CCAC chair, Marie Donnelly, said: "Financial support needs to be stepped up now so we can halt and reverse biodiversity loss through the successful implementation of the 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan and the pending National Restoration Plan.
"Government needs to create an integrated land use strategy to support climate, biodiversity and water goals, based on comprehensive spatial data.
"This will require a collaborative approach across multiple departments and agencies to oversee the implementation of nature-based solutions within a range of sectors including urban development and regeneration, flood prevention, agriculture, forestry, fisheries and marine and coastal management."
Professor Yvonne Buckley, Climate Change Advisory Council member, added: "We need to optimise the role of ecosystem restoration in reducing emissions, sequestering carbon and improving resilience to climate change. Peatland restoration is an obvious example but many other ecosystems need to be protected and restored, particularly in coastal and upland areas.
"It is crucially important that we understand and adapt to the impacts of climate change on ecosystems and the Government in collaboration with the broader research community should develop a dedicated research programme to deliver this."
The Climate Change Advisory Council also says the government needs to support farmers with long-term and results-based financial support necessary to enable them to adopt nature-friendly practices and enhance biodiversity on their farms.
Professor Yvonne Buckley, Climate Change Advisory Council member, added: "We need to optimise the role of ecosystem restoration in reducing emissions, sequestering carbon and improving resilience to climate change. Peatland restoration is an obvious example but many other ecosystems need to be protected and restored, particularly in coastal and upland areas.
"It is crucially important that we understand and adapt to the impacts of climate change on ecosystems and the Government in collaboration with the broader research community should develop a dedicated research programme to deliver this."
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