Ireland‘s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced €6.5 million in funding for 24 new projects addressing climate and environmental policy issues.
The funding, which will focus on research projects in areas such as climate change, the natural environment, the green and circular economy and the environment and human health, will support 148 research staff across ten higher education institutions, as well as collaborating with some 34 organisations, the EPA said.
It noted that the EPA Research Programme, which incorporates the EPA Research Call, provides an evidence-based platform for environmental policy in Ireland, in turn supporting the country’s Research and Innovation Strategy, Impact 2030.
“We face complex challenges in becoming a resilient, competitive and sustainable society,” commented Dr Eimear Cotter, EPA deputy director general. “Research, such as that funded through the EPA Research Call, will play a vital role in supporting robust policy- and decision-making while ensuring the protection of our environment and climate.
“The projects announced today will support targeted, policy‑relevant research and build connections with policy-makers and practitioners, and ultimately support more effective action. I congratulate the successful teams and look forward to seeing the positive impacts of their work.”
The University of Galway received the highest number of successful research awards, with Aengus Parsons, acting vice-president for research and innovation, stating that the support will strengthen its “commitment to research and innovation around sustainable and resilient environments. I look forward to seeing these projects progress to impacts across climate policy, coastal risk, air quality, emissions reduction, peatland resilience, the bioeconomy, and water quality.”
