EPA Invests €21.4M in Climate and Environmental Research Across Ireland

New funding supports 36 projects focused on climate adaptation, environmental health, and sustainability, involving 98 researchers at 27 Irish institutions.

• By Stasia DeMarco
• Jun 25, 2025

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded €21.4 million in funding to support 36 new environmental and climate-focused research projects across Ireland, reinforcing the nation's commitment to scientific innovation and sustainable development.

The awards are part of the EPA Research Program’s continued mission to strengthen Ireland’s response to pressing environmental challenges. Funding was issued in two phases: €14.5 million was distributed in February to 25 projects, followed by an additional €6.9 million in June to support 11 more.

The investments target a wide range of priority areas, including climate change adaptation, environmental health, circular economy initiatives, and sustainable natural resource management.

In total, 98 researchers across 27 academic and institutional organizations will participate in the newly funded projects. The effort is aimed not only at advancing environmental knowledge but also at building long-term research capacity and fostering closer collaboration between scientists, policy makers, and environmental leaders.

“The increased scale of research funding being announced by the EPA in 2025 reflects the critical role that research and innovation play in addressing climate change, environmental pollution, and biodiversity decline,” said Dr. Eimear Cotter, Director of the EPA’s Office of Evidence and Assessment. “This new EPA funding will help develop innovative solutions to support Ireland’s response to these challenges.”

The EPA Research Program is a Government of Ireland initiative funded by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. It plays a central role in producing evidence-based research to inform public policy and guide responsible environmental governance nationwide.