An assessment of the role of community and voluntary groups in climate change adaptation in Irish coastal areas: Community led responses to climate change impacts in Irish coastal areas

Ongoing risk plus slow progress in action from statutory organisations/government has prompted adaptation initiatives from communities facing threats and impacts of coastal change. In this paper, both the enabling conditions that have given rise to community led coastal adaptation responses at a Global, European and national level (in Ireland) are considered. Following a review of the Irish policy framework for community engagement in climate adaptation, 6 case studies from Irish coastal communities are presented and the nature of these initiatives is explored with a particular focus on motivation, resources and interactions with statutory bodies. The findings reveal that progress is being made in the provision of guidance, funding and resourcing. In addition, some local level adaptation tasks and activities are amenable to community-led implementation while other measures require leadership by statutory authorities (with inputs from local stakeholders). However, to fully realise the potential of community led coastal adaptation responses, barriers in the form of a top-down governance model, the lack of a national coastal management strategy and the unclear allocation of coastal management responsibilities will need to be addressed.