THREE PEACEPLUS PROJECTS TO STRENGTHEN CLIMATE RESILIENCE

Three PEACEPLUS projects aiming to strengthen climate resilience and coastal community engagement in Irish seas. Aiming to strengthen climate change resilience and coastal community engagement in Irish seas, three independent projects supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), were launched at a joint event recently hosted by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) at their Newforge Lane headquarters in Belfast. 

Marking an almost €25 million contribution from the PEACEPLUS programme, the event provided a platform to share the project teams’ drive and enthusiasm for the hard work ahead. The Marine Institute is delighted to be part of and support these initiatives, which will strive to improve awareness and knowledge of climate change impacts on key marine species and habitats around Ireland, as well as enhance the capacity to predict future changes needed to manage protected areas and species in Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland.

The three projects awarded funding under PEACEPLUS (Theme 5.2) in spring 2025 were: 

• ACCLIMATISE (A Changing Climate Impact Monitoring and Assessment Toolbox for Irish Seas, €7.1 million) led by AFBI 

• MOSAIC (Multi-disciplinary Ocean Sensing for Adaptive International Conservation, €8 million) led by the Loughs Agency 

• CMAP (Coastal Monitoring and Adaptation Plan project, €9.6 million) led by Ulster University.  

Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Andrew Muir MLA said: “I am delighted to mark the launch of three significant PEACEPLUS projects, supported by €25 million in funding, dedicated to strengthening the resilience of our shared marine waters. I wish to acknowledge the Special EU Programmes Body, whose leadership has created this valuable opportunity for joint learning and collaboration on the challenges facing our oceans.

“Climate change, biodiversity loss and water pollution are already affecting our ecosystems, our communities and our economy. The situation at Lough Neagh in recent summers is a clear reminder of the scale of the environmental challenge. Improving water quality is a central priority for me and this source-to-sea approach, will help deliver on our commitment in the Programme for Government to improve water quality.

“I am proud to support these projects, not only through the Department’s investment, but through our continued partnership with Special EU Programmes Body to provide strategic guidance on C-MAP, MOSAIC and ACCLIMATISE. I am particularly encouraged by the breadth of collaboration involved, with more than 30 partner organisations, bringing together leading scientific and environmental expertise across this island, Scotland and Canada. Through enhanced marine monitoring, shared evidence, habitat restoration and innovation, these projects will provide a robust evidence base, for forward-looking decision making and help build resilience of our marine environment for the years ahead.”

Timmy Dooley T.D Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment said:

“As Minister with responsibility for the Marine I am very supportive of projects which are aimed at the sustainable use of Ireland’s seas and coastlines. These three cross border projects, supported by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, will dovetail with and enhance Ireland’s existing marine environmental framework, benefitting everyone on the island who uses or enjoys the sea”.

SEUPB Chief Executive Gina McIntyre said:

 “Our natural environment is one of our greatest assets. Protecting and enhancing it is essential not only for biodiversity, but also for the health, prosperity and well-being of our communities. A clean, accessible and resilient coastline supports tourism, industry, recreation and quality of life — and it contributes to a peaceful, sustainable future for all.

“Thismarks a significant milestone for the PEACEPLUS Programme and for the future of our shared marine and coastal environment. The investment in ACCLIMATISE, CMAP and MOSAIC shows what can be achieved when institutions, researchers, communities and governments work together with shared purpose.”

ACCLIMATISE brings together leading scientific and environmental organisations across the island of Ireland and Scotland, who will apply their combined expertise in marine ecology, ocean observation, biodiversity monitoring and environmental modelling to deliver one of the most ambitious crossborder marine climate initiatives undertaken in the region. Project partners include the Marine Institute (Foras na Mara), RSPB, the British Trust for Ornithology, the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, Queen’s University Belfast, and the Scottish Association for Marine Science. The project will develop new monitoring tools, digital models, and adaptation strategies to support ecosystem-based marine management across both jurisdictions.

Dr Caroline Cusack, Marine Institute Principal Investigator (PI) for the ACCLIMATISE, said:

“The Marine Institute is proud to support ACCLIMATISE, a project that will give us a clearer picture of how climate change is affecting the shelf seas. By bringing together expertise from across the region, we can provide better information to help protect marine wildlife and support the coastal communities that rely on a healthy ocean.”

MOSAIC will establish an ambitious, cross-border marine observation network linking oceanography and biodiversity to improve how we understand and manage our shared seas in a changing climate.

Bringing together 11 partner organisations from across Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Canada, MOSAIC will deploy innovative sensor technologies and develop new decision-support tools to monitor threatened and declining marine species; from sharks and skates to cetaceans and turtles. The project will deliver joint species strategies and action plans, climate impact indicators and a federated data system to ensure long-term access to high-quality marine data for researchers, policymakers and coastal communities.

Speaking about the MOSAIC project, Marine Institute Principal Investigator (PI), Dr. Catherine Waters said:

“It’s inspiring to be part of the PEACEPLUS project launch. The energy and enthusiasm from everyone involved is remarkable, and it shows what’s possible when people come together with a common purpose. The ambitious vision behind these projects seems more achievable through collaborations as inspiring and committed as these.”

Image: Marine Institute