Turn the Tide on The Climate Crisis
You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.
What Impact will climate change have for Ireland?
The EPA’s Climate Change Research Programme carries out relevant and up to date studies on climate change in Ireland. Analysis of the meteorological records shows that Ireland’s climate is changing in line with global patterns.
Temperature Trend
The clearest trend is evident in the temperature records which show a mean temperature increase of 0.7o C between 1890 and 2008, i.e. an increase of 0.06o C per decade. The increase was 0.4o C during the period 1980-2008, i.e. equivalent to 0.14o C per decade.
Other Indicators
- Six of the ten warmest years in Ireland have occurred since 1990
- A reduction in the number of frost days and shortening of frost season length
- An increase in annual rainfall in northern and western areas with decreases or small increases in the south and east.
- These changes are reflected in Ireland’s natural environment with an increase in the growing season and with greater number of animals suited to warmer temperatures being evident in Ireland and its surrounding waters.
Ocean Acidification
In more recent years, another significant issue has emerged. Ocean Acidification will have harmful effects on marine organisms and has the potential to disrupt global marine ecosystems. For more information see the Marine Institute’s report External linkOcean Acidification: An Emerging Threat to our Marine Environment.
Future Adverse Impacts
Climate change impacts are projected to increase in the coming decades and during the rest of this century. Uncertainties remain in relation to the scale and extent of these impacts, particularly during the second half of the century. The greatest uncertainly lies in how effective global actions will be in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Predicted adverse impacts include:
- sea level rise,
- more intense storms and rainfall events,
- increased likelihood and magnitude of river and coastal flooding and
- water shortages in summer in the east
- adverse impacts on water quality
- changes in distribution of plant and animal species
- effects on fisheries sensitive to changes in temperature
Warming at the Poles
Warming at the poles will soon be felt globally in rising seas, extreme weather. Ice loss, permafrost thaw, fires.
Trouble in the Arctic and Antarctic could cause shocks to the world’s weather and sea levels sooner than thought, says a new study.
Top 10 Things You Can Do Now to Help The Planet
The scale of the challenges facing our planet can seem daunting, but we can all do something. Here are 10 simple ways you can help reduce your impact, and help in the fight against climate change.
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