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A new JRC study reveals implications of corrosion induced by climate change on buildings in Ireland
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The new JRC study on the impact of climate change on the corrosion of the European reinforced concrete building stock predicts that under a severe climate change scenario - with a projected 3°C warming by 2100 - Ireland could be facing total repair costs amounting to 9 billion euros by 2100 due to corrosion. This would involve the need for repairs in almost 500.000 buildings in the country. The projected welfare impact is expected to be 0.03% of the country's GDP by 2100, considering the projected annual repair cost of 0.14 million euros.
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Additionally, the carbonation-triggered corrosion process in buildings is expected to start around 2080. In contrast, no buildings are expected to experience corrosion in a moderate climate change scenario.
The study is the first evaluation of how climate change affects the European concrete buildings, particularly in terms of a chemical process called carbonation, which can weaken the structure over time. It estimates the time for the on-set of corrosion due to depleting of the steel reinforcement cover and evaluates the related repair costs and the annual welfare loss. The European Commission's proactive approach to managing climate risks underscores the significance of integrating climate adaptation and resilience into building standards.
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The Raw Materials Information System presents relevant data for Ireland
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Ireland is the leading EU producer of refined aluminium, according to the data included in the EC’s Raw Materials Information System (RMIS), managed by the JRC.
In 2023, Ireland's main non-food, non-fuel raw materials imports included fertilizers from Norway and the UK, PGM (Platinum Group Metals) from South Africa and the UK, wood from the UK, aluminium from Guinea and Sierra Leone, and coking coal from Colombia.
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Since 2000, Ireland's resource productivity has increased more than threefold, greatly outpacing the EU average. Over the last decade, emissions intensities have decreased for all sectors relevant to non-food, non-fuel raw materials, except for basic metals. Within the EU, the circular material use rate for Ireland remains notably low.
The EC’s Raw Materials Information System provides straightforward access to information on the EU’s supply of individual raw materials at various processing stages, such as extraction, processing, and recycling. It also includes profiles for all EU Member States, as well as most countries in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Acting as vital link between European Stakeholders and EU-level policy community, the RMIS allows for thorough and regular analysis (including foresights) of critical and strategic raw materials supply and value chains.
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Transboundary sources affect air pollution in Dublin
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The highest shares of PM2.5 emissions in Dublin come from the industry sector and the residential sector, according to the figures of the recently published JRC Urban PM2.5 Atlas. A relevant part of air pollution (more than 30%) in the Irish capital city comes from transboundary sources.
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The latest edition of the Atlas pinpoints sectors and extent of air pollution across 150 European cities thanks to updated dataset and methodology. For most of them, tackling emitters locally – such as residential heating or road transport – can effectively improve air quality. At the same time, acting at country or EU level on agriculture emissions would also be very effective.
The Atlas relies on data from SHERPA (Screening for High Emission Reduction Potential on Air), an open-access assessment tool developed by the JRC that can test a wide set of scenarios for any European city.
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The Blue economy in Ireland
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The Blue Economy sectors in Ireland directly employ nearly 25.000 people and generate 1.6 billion euros in Gross Value Added, according to the data of the recently published EU Blue Economy Observatory. They represent a limited share of the national economy, contributing by approximately 1% to national employment and 0.4% to national GVA.
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The relative size and share of employment in the Blue Economy has been steadily increasing between 2009 (39.000 people) and 2017 (63.000 people). The workforce nearly halved between 2019 and 2020, mainly because of the economic contraction triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. It further decreased by another 7.000 people between 2020 and 2021 (-23%).
The EU Blue Economy Observatory is part of the annual report for the sector, compiled by the JRC and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. It examines the scale and breadth of the Blue Economy within the EU, offering guidance to policymakers and stakeholders in fostering the sustainable progress of oceans and coastal resources.
The report presents data on marine living and non-living resources, marine renewable energy (offshore wind), port activities, shipbuilding and repair, maritime transport and coastal tourism. It also offers relevant information on innovative blue economy sectors, such as desalination and blue biotechnology. In addition, this year’s edition includes a section on energy transition and climate change in the EU maritime transport sector, on the EU fishing fleet and the partnership in fisheries and aquaculture, as well as a section on coastal flood impacts due to climate change.
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A new JRC report analyses tax-benefit effects on household incomes and work incentives in Ireland
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The EUROMOD country report for Ireland, published in June, analyses tax-benefit effects on household incomes and work incentives for the population of the country, using the methodology defined by the JRC. EUROMOD is the tax-benefit microsimulation model for the European Union which enables researchers and policy analysts to calculate, in a comparable manner, the effects of taxes and benefits on household incomes and work incentives for the population of each country and for the EU as a whole.
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The Country Report is prepared by the Irish EUROMOD National Team, and made available by the JRC on time for the EUROMOD public release of the model at the beginning of each year.
EUROMOD uses input databases which are updated on a yearly basis, coming mainly from the EU Statistics on Income and Living Conditions. It is supported by several Directorate-Generals of the European Commission.
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Ireland is among the best performers on innovation in the EU
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Ireland performs very well in terms of share of employment in knowledge intensive activities and trademark applications respectively, according to the findings recently published in the 2023 Innovation Output Indicator (IOI) published by the JRC.
Sweden and Germany are the best performers in the EU, followed by Finland and Ireland. Sweden is particularly strong in terms of intellectual property applications. Germany, on the other hand, is the country that depends the least on foreign inputs in the manufacturing sector: over half of the value of its knowledge-intensive exports is domestically generated.
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The European Union outperforms New Zealand, Australia, and China in terms of innovation output, but still lags behind countries like Switzerland, the United States, and South Korea.
The Innovation Output Indicator measures innovation performance for 46 countries including EU Member States, the EU as a whole, and other economies. The index feeds into the European Commission’s Science, Research and Innovation Performance of the EU report published in June, which analyses research and innovation dynamics and Europe's performance on science and innovation.
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