The EPA Research-funded project – Irish Natural Capital Accounting for Sustainable Environments – is launching its final report and recommendations at Trinity College Dublin at 5.30pm on November 14th, 2023.
The project brought together a multi-disciplinary team of ecologists and economists from four Irish universities to pilot the UN-backed System of Environmental Economic Accounting-Ecosystem Accounting (or 'SEEA-EA'), in four Irish sub-catchments - the Bride in Co Cork; the Caragh, Co Kerry; the Dargle, Co Wicklow and the Figile in Co Offaly.
The value of nature for physical and mental wellbeing, clean air and water, flood protection, shelter and food, diverse wildlife and habitats, can all be factored into decisions using the framework. Even if these values are hard to articulate in financial terms, they should be accounted for in policy decisions that impact them.
Since the initiation of the INCASE project in 2018, there has been significant international progress in implementing the SEEA-EA as a complementary metric to GDP, with the Central Statistics Office in Ireland taking up the task of developing ecosystem accounts here.
Building natural capital (ecosystem & geosystem) accounts involves accessing a wide variety of Irish data sources. This process highlighted the need for engagement with and collaboration across a range of data providers in Ireland, and the need for regular and reliable data collection.
EPA Research has issued a final synthesis report on INCASE’s work and a number of recommendations for implementing the framework at various levels, particularly in relation to Irish national policy.
The event will take place in the TCD Botany Building's Lecture Theatre. https://www.tcd.ie/Maps/map.php?b=61
AGENDA:
5.30 Registration
5.40 Welcome/context - Prof Jane Stout, Trinity College Dublin, INCASE Principal Investigator
5.50 Overview of INCASE project findings and recommendations - Dr Catherine Farrell, Trinity College Dublin, INCASE lead ecologist
6.10 Beyond INCASE – ongoing research projects @ site scale (For-ES, Nature+ Energy, FarmZeroC)
6.20 Looking forward – the role of Natural Capital / Ecosystem Accounting in sustainability reporting - Carl Obst, IDEEA Group
6.30 Next steps for NCA in Ireland - EPA
6.40 Refreshments & chat
7.00 Close
Register for the event FREE on eventbrite.
The synthesis report & full technical research report will be available to access from November 14th - sign up HERE for updates.
AKNOWLEDGEMENT: This project is funded under the EPA Research Programme 2014-2020. The EPA Research Programme is a Government of Ireland initiative funded by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. It is administered by the Environmental Protection Agency, which has the statutory function of co-ordinating and promoting environmental research.
DISCLAIMER: Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the material contained in this newsletter, complete accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Neither the Environmental Protection Agency nor the authors accept any responsibility whatsoever for loss or damage occasioned or claimed to have been occasioned, in part or in full, as a consequence of any person acting or refraining from acting, as a result of a matter contained in this newsletter.