The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today (Thursday, April 4), opened its 2024 call for new environmental and climate research with €14.5 million available in funding.
The EPA is inviting research proposals for innovative projects to support the development and implementation of environmental policies in Ireland, including the Climate Action Plan.
Under the 2023 research call, 33 environmental and climate research projects, including several in relation to Irish agriculture, received funding worth €14.3 million.
Under the EPA’s 2024 research call, 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 Ireland’s natural environment.
An information webinar on the 2024 call will be held on Wednesday, April 17 at 10:00a.m. Anyone interested in attending the webinar is asked to register on the EPA website.
The deadline for technical queries is on Thursday, May 23, before the EPA’s 2024 research call will close for project submissions on Thursday, May 30 at 4:00p.m.
The research calls are open to all types of organisations within Ireland. Applicants must be registered on the EPA’s online grant application and project management system.
Environmental and climate research
Applicants may apply under a range of broad themes. It is envisaged that multiple projects will be supported under each theme which, more specifically, 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 Ireland’s 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.
“The call invites applications across a wider range and larger number of thematic areas, with funding available for up to 4 years in most of these areas,” EPA research manager, Dr. Darragh O’Neill said.
The EPA particularly encourages applicants to consider inter- and transdisciplinary projects with contributions from diverse research disciplines and sectors, Dr. O’Neill said.