A new €6.7 million climate change research initiative was launched yesterday by Minister of State for Community Development, Natural Resources and Digital Development, Seán Kyne.
The overall objective of the project, led by UCD in partnership with Aberystwyth University, is to improve the quality of coastal waters in both Ireland and Wales, boosting local tourism and supporting marine industries, such as shellfish harvesting. It will identify pollution streams and their impact on coastal waters, in both urban and rural settings and the impact of climate change on pollution.
The Acclimatize project will focus on designated and 'at-risk' bathing waters in two complementary environments, a large scale urban and a rural agricultural environment.
The large scale urban environment is represented in the project by 'at-risk' bathing waters in Dublin Bay (Sandymount, Merrion and Dollymount strands), whereas the rural agricultural environment will focus on 'at-risk' bathing waters in Wales; Wiseman’s Bridge (Pembrokeshire), Newquay North and Aberystwyth South (Ceredigion, Aberdyfi (Gwynedd) and Rhyl (Denbighshire).
Initial fieldwork at Cemaes Bay in Anglesey was successfully completed in the 2017 bathing season and provides an excellent platform on which to build predictive modelling. This has already been presented to the international science and policy communities with an invited keynote talk in New Zealand in September 2017. It was also presented in a report to the WHO and EU on the science-base supporting revision of the WHO and EU water quality criteria for bathing waters which will be considered by international experts in early 2018.
Speaking yesterday, Minister of State for Community Development, Natural Resources and Digital Development, Seán Kyne said, "I am delighted to launch the Acclimatize research initiative. This week with Budget 2018 we have secured a 43% increase in funding for energy and climate action initiatives to help us on our journey to a low carbon economy."
He added, "Research initiatives such as Acclimatize are very important in assisting Government and other stakeholders in making informing decisions which maximise the effectiveness of the funding available. Acclimatize is also a very positive example of how EU funds are being are being used to support local economies to address pollution in our coastlines and mitigate the impacts of climate change."
Source: www.businessworld.ie
