Thurles Information

• The EPA announces funding of €14.5m for new environmental and climate research across open themes, focusing on medium- to longer-term environmental research needs.
• Research proposals are invited for research across the following areas:
  • Addressing Climate Change Evidence Needs
  • Delivering a Healthy Environment
  • Facilitating a Green and Circular Economy
  • Protecting and Restoring our Natural Environment
• Funding high quality environmental research is essential to support policy development as well as building capacity within the environmental research community in Ireland.
• Successful researchers will work closely with policy makers to ensure that the research is impactful and effectively informs environmental policy in Ireland.

Yesterday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced research funding of up to €14.5 million for new environmental research. The EPA is inviting proposals from the research community for innovative projects to support the development and implementation of environmental policies in Ireland.

Announcing the EPA funding call, Dr Eimear Cotter, Director of the Office of Evidence and Assessment said, “The EPA is committed to funding excellent research to address knowledge gaps, build capacity and provide robust evidence to support the implementation of effective environmental policies in Ireland. We have recently announced an increase in the PhD stipend to €25,000 for EPA-funded students and now invite research proposals across a range of open themes focusing on funding medium- to longer-term research. In 2023, 40 per cent of awardees had not previously applied to the EPA for funding and we hope to see this trend continue in 2024.”

Areas of research include exploring global risks to Ireland achieving its climate and environmental goals; understanding vulnerabilities to climate change at a local level including climate attribution science related to extreme weather events in Ireland; how to accelerate our transition to a circular economy; the impact of a changing climate on our health; and how we can consider benefits to both nature and the economy in decision-making.

Dr Darragh O’Neill, EPA Research Manager, said, “Building on last year’s call, which included a number of broad research themes and attracted a large proportion of new applicants, we are pleased to extend this approach in the EPA Research Call 2024. The call invites applications across a wider range and larger number of thematic areas, with funding available for up to four years in most of these areas. Recognising the environmental, economic and societal challenges associated with the green transition, we particularly encourage applicants to consider inter- and transdisciplinary projects with contributions from diverse research disciplines and sectors.”

The EPA Research Programme is a Government of Ireland initiative funded by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. Under this year’s call, the EPA is delighted to be partnering with Met Éireann to co-fund projects in areas of mutual interest.