Adapting heritage policy for a changing climate:: Reflections from Ireland

When creating strategies for climate change adaptation the degree of uncertainty in future modelling poses a substantial challenge. This paper offers a brief exploration of this and other barriers to policy development taking the Republic of Ireland as a case study. Research and policy developments over the last decade in Ireland are chronicled including the implications of the 2016 Climate Change Bill and plans to develop a sectoral adaptation strategy for built and archaeological heritage. The Irish example demonstrates how uncertainty, future discounting, politics and financial instability impacts on the development of heritage policy in relation to climate change.