Climate change in the Republic of Ireland explained

Climate change may have a range of impacts in the Republic of Ireland. Increasing temperatures may change weather patterns, with the potential for increased heatwaves, rainfall and storm events, with subsequent impacts on people through flooding[1] Climate change has been assessed to be the single biggest threat to Ireland, according to the head of the Defence Forces of Ireland, Mark Mellett.[2]

Greenhouse gas emissions

Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions increased between 1990 and 2001 when they peaked at 70.46 Mt carbon dioxide equivalent before decreasing each year up to 2014.[3] In 2015 the emissions increased 4.1%, and in 2016 increased by 3.4% before remaining stable in 2017 and 2018, before decreasing by 4.5% in 2019 from the 2018 levels. Overall, the emissions have increased by 10.1 per cent from 1990 to 2019.

The Central Statistics Office also collate and publish data relating to emissions and the effects as recorded in Ireland.[4]

In 2017, Ireland had the third highest greenhouse gas emissions per capita in the European Union and 51% higher than the EU-28 average of 8.8 tonnes.[5] The world average in 2016 was 4.92 tonnes.[6]

Sources

71.4% of the emissions in 2019 came from energy industries, transport and agriculture, with agriculture the single largest contributor at 35.3%.[7] In Irish agriculture, the two most important greenhouse gases are methane and nitrous oxide.[8] 60% of Irish agricultural emissions come directly from animal agriculture, primarily as a result of methane-producing enteric fermentation from cattle. A further 30% derive from soils fertilised by manures, synthetic fertiliser or animal grazing on pasture.[9]

Impacts on the natural environment

Temperature and weather changes

Between 1890 and 2008, the mean temperature recorded in Ireland measured an increase of 0.7 degrees Celsius, with an increase of 0.4 degrees Celsius between 1980 and 2008.[10] Other indicators of a warming climate identified by the Environmental Protection Agency are ten of the warmest recorded years occurring since 1990, a decrease in the number of days with frost and a shorter season in which frost occurs, and increased annual rainfall in the north and west of the country. An increase in the active growing season has been recorded, as well as an increase in animals arriving in Ireland and its surrounding waters which are adapted to warmer conditions.[11]

A 2020 study from the Irish Centre for High-End Computing indicated that Ireland's climate is likely to change drastically by 2050.[12] Annual average temperatures could climb to 1.6 °C above pre-industrial levels under RCP8.5, with the east of Ireland seeing the highest increase, resulting in a "direct impact" on public health and mortality.[13] The study also predicted the number of frost days to decrease between 68 and 78 per cent, summer precipitation to decrease by up to 17%.

In June 2023, there was a Category 4 (extreme) marine heatwave in Irish waters, with some regions experiencing a Category 5 (beyond extreme) increase in temperatures.[14] During this heatwave sea surface temperatures reached their highest ever recorded in Irish waters.[15]

Ecosystems

Temperature changes risk disrupting or changing the timing of the life cycle of plant and animal species across the country. For example, the timing of leaf unfolding in selected populations of the non native beech trees has become steadily earlier since the 1970s.[16] Changes to the timing of life cycle events (phenology) can result in temporal mismatches between species, as not all species and life history events are equally responsive to temperature.[17] Such changes may result in disruption of previously synchronised ecosystem function, resulting in changes in species composition and functioning of some ecosystems.[18]

Ocean acidification has been recorded in the waters off at Ireland since records began in 1990 by the Marine Institute.[19] This is caused by the uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide into the ocean. In addition to acidification, Irish waters are becoming warmer and less salty, causing harm to marine life.[20] Harmful algae are becoming more abundant in Irish waters, not just in warmer months, potentially harming ocean creatures such as shellfish.

Impacts on people

Sea level rise and flooding

One of the greatest threats is to coastal and low lying regions from sea level rise, alongside increased rainfall and storm events. 40% of the population live within 5 km of the coast,[21] and 70,000 Irish addresses are at risk of coastal flooding by 2050. Sea levels have risen around by 40 cm around Cork since 1842, approximate 50% greater than previously expected.[22] The rate of sea level rise around Dublin is approximately twice the global rate.[23]

Storm surges also have an increased risk of occurring with rising temperature, with climatologists predicting that Ireland is overdue a 3m storm surge.[1] In addition to coastal flooding, flooding due to increased groundwater levels is also a risk.[24]

Drought

An increase in water shortages are expected due to periods of drought, and a decrease in water quality.

Health impacts

Adverse health issues relating to climate change have also been identified by the Irish Health Service Executive, including increased risk of skin cancers, waterbourne, foodborne and respiratory diseases.[25]

Mitigation and adaptation

Policies and regulation

The previous governing policy on mitigation, the 2017 National Mitigation Plan, was quashed by the Irish Supreme Court in August 2020. The Court ruled that the plan was contrary to the 2015 Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act.[26]

Agencies, such as the Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI), have formulated a number of projects aimed at providing alternatives to current energy sources and the movement away from the contributing factors of climate change. These include the GSI's research into geothermal technologies and carbon sequestration.[27]

Climate change Bill 2021

On 23 July, the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021 was signed into law by the President. The bill creates a legally binding path to net zero emissions by 2050.[28] Five-year carbon budgets produced by the Climate Change Advisory Council will dictate the path to carbon neutrality, with the aim of the first two budgets creating a 51% reduction by 2030.[29] The five-year budgets will not be legally binding.[30]

Despite being touted as "ambitious" by the Irish Government, the bill came under heavy criticism from Irish environmentalists and scientists.[31] Amendments passed by the Seanad on 9 July allow the Government, rather than the Climate Change Advisory Committee to determine how greenhouse gas emissions are calculated and taken into account. Climate scientist and IPCC author John Sweeney argued that these amendments "depart from the scientifically established methodology and give discretion to the Government to decide what to measure, how to measure it, and what the removals will be and how they are counted".

CityTrees

In an attempt to capture pollutants originating from smog, Cork City Council have installed 5 CityTrees in different locations across the city. This has resulted in controversy.[32]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Kevin . O'Sullivan . Over 70,000 Irish addresses at risk of coastal flooding by 2050 . . 21 May 2020 . 22 July 2021.
  2. News: O'Connor . Niall . Head of Defence Forces says climate change is single biggest threat to Ireland . 31 July 2021 . TheJournal.ie . en.
  3. Web site: Current trends climate . www.epa.ie . . 21 July 2021 . en.
  4. Web site: Environmental Indicators Ireland 2018 . Central Statistics Office . August 2018 . 28 April 2021 . en.
  5. Web site: Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change - CSO - Central Statistics Office . www.cso.ie . 21 July 2021 . en.
  6. Web site: Ritchie . Hannah . Hannah Ritchie . Roser . Max . Max Roser . Per capita greenhouse gas emissions . . 21 July 2021.
  7. Web site: Climate . Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) . 28 April 2021 . en.
  8. Web site: 2020 - Agricultural Emissions - greenhouse gases and ammonia - Teagasc Agriculture and Food Development Authority . www.teagasc.ie . 21 July 2021.
  9. News: Thompson . Sylvia . Can Irish farmers reduce greenhouse gas emissions? . . 17 June 2021 . 21 July 2021.
  10. Web site: Effects in Ireland . www.gsi.ie . . 21 July 2021.
  11. Web site: What Impact will climate change have for Ireland? . Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) . 28 April 2021 . en.
  12. News: Ireland's climate likely to drastically change by 2050 . 21 July 2021 . Green News Ireland . 18 September 2020.
  13. Book: Flanagan . Jason . Nolan . Paul . Research 339: High-resolution Climate Projections for Ireland – A Multi-model Ensemble Approach . 978-1-84095-934-5 . 33 . 23 July 2021.
  14. Web site: Record-breaking North Atlantic Ocean temperatures contribute to extreme marine heatwaves Copernicus . climate.copernicus.eu . 13 July 2023.
  15. Web site: Marine Heat Wave 2023 – A Warning for the Future - Met Éireann - The Irish Meteorological Service . www.met.ie . 13 July 2023.
  16. Donnelly . Alison . Salamin . Nicolas . Jones . Mike B. . Changes in Tree Phenology: An Indicator of Spring Warming in Ireland? . Biology and Environment: Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy . 2006 . 106B . 1 . 49–56 . 10.1353/bae.2006.0014 . 20728577 . 21 July 2021 . 0791-7945.
  17. Ockendon . Nancy . Baker . David J. . Carr . Jamie A. . Mechanisms underpinning climatic impacts on natural populations: altered species interactions are more important than direct effects . . July 2014 . 20 . 7 . 2221–2229 . 10.1111/gcb.12559. 24677405 . 2014GCBio..20.2221O . 39877152 .
  18. Web site: Ireland's Biodiversity Sectoral Climate Change Adaptation Plan . www.npws.ie . . 21 July 2021.
  19. Web site: Nutrients and Ocean Acidification (OA) . Marine Institute . 28 April 2021.
  20. News: Hoare . Pádraig . Climate change already impacting Irish waters . 21 July 2021 . . 7 March 2021 . irishexam . en.
  21. Web site: Population Distribution - CSO - Central Statistics Office . www.cso.ie . 2 May 2022 . en.
  22. Pugh . David T. . Bridge . Edmund . Edwards . Robin . Hogarth . Peter . Westbrook . Guy . Woodworth . Philip L. . McCarthy . Gerard D. . Mean sea level and tidal change in Ireland since 1842: a case study of Cork . Ocean Science . 11 November 2021 . 17 . 6 . 1623–1637 . 10.5194/os-17-1623-2021 . 2021OcSci..17.1623P . English . 1812-0784. free .
  23. News: Why sea levels are rising higher than expected in Dublin and Cork . 2 May 2022 . 28 April 2022 . en.
  24. Web site: Climate Action at Geological Survey Ireland . www.gsi.ie . 28 April 2021.
  25. Web site: Climate change and health . HSE.ie . 28 April 2021 . en.
  26. News: Climate change: 'Huge' implications to Irish climate case across Europe . 28 April 2021 . BBC News . 1 August 2020.
  27. Web site: Climate Research at Geological Survey Ireland . www.gsi.ie . 28 April 2021.
  28. Web site: Ireland's ambitious Climate Act signed into law . www.gov.ie . 23 July 2021 . 23 July 2021 . en.
  29. News: McDermott . Stephen . Carbon neutral by 2050: Ireland's green targets to be legally binding for the first time . 23 July 2021 . TheJournal.ie . en.
  30. Web site: Crosson . Kayle . A deep dive: the revised Climate Bill . Green News Ireland . 23 July 2021 . 26 March 2021.
  31. News: Recent amendments have "gutted" Climate Bill . 23 July 2021 . Green News Ireland . 12 July 2021.
  32. Web site: English . Eoin . 2023-11-08 . Cork City’s €400k 'robotrees' like using 'bathroom sponges in Midleton' to combat flooding . 2024-02-17 . Irish Examiner . en.