Review of Ireland's Climate Finance Roadmap

The provision of climate finance to developing countries is an important element of Ireland’s foreign policy and international development cooperation. At COP26 in November 2021, the Taoiseach announced that Ireland would provide at least €225 million annually in international climate finance to developing countries by 2025. Ireland’s International Climate Finance Roadmap (2022) was published subsequently, setting out a whole-of-government strategy for this scale-up in funding and the priorities for Ireland’s climate finance to 2030. The Roadmap further established a Climate Finance Sub-Group of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Development (IDCD) to oversee, coordinate and ensure coherence of Ireland’s international climate spend.

In line with the document’s commitments, an external Review of Ireland’s International Climate Finance Roadmap was completed in late 2025 by energy, environment and climate change consultants, Trinomics. This Review is published below, alongside a Management Response setting out the IDCD Sub-Group’s reflections on and planned actions to address the recommendations it raises.

Ireland’s international climate finance is currently provided by four government departments: the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; the Department of Finance; the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment; and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. It is delivered via a range of channels including Ireland’s Embassy network, Irish Non-Governmental Organisations working in developing countries, Multilateral Climate and Environment Funds, United Nations agencies, and Multilateral Development Banks.

As set out in the Roadmap, Ireland’s climate finance seeks to prioritise climate adaptation in some of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, particularly Least Developed Countries, Small Island Developing States, and fragile and conflict-affected contexts. Ireland is also expanding support in key areas including ocean protection, biodiversity, and Loss and Damage.

The Review and Recommendations reflect measurable progress in delivering on the Roadmap and provide welcome guidance for continuing to enhance the quality and impact of Ireland’s international climate finance.