State and Impacts

Climate change is a global issue and is being driven by enhanced atmospheric greenhouse gas levels. The levels of these gases have continued to increase as shown by measurements of carbon dioxide (CO₂) at Mace Head on the west coast of Ireland.

These observations are replicated at other sites around the world. Current atmospheric levels now exceed by far the natural range over the last 650,000 years.

The effects of the enhanced greenhouse gas levels are most evident in the temperature record. For Ireland the average temperature has increased by 0.7^oC over the period 1890 – 2007 and there is also evidence of a trend towards more intense and more frequent rainfall. These trends are reflected in ecosystem changes, with an increase in the growing season and greater numbers of warmer latitude fauna evident in Ireland and its surrounding waters.

Future impacts of climate change in Ireland will be both direct and indirect, resulting from spillover from impacts in other parts of Europe and the rest of the world. Predicted negative impacts in Ireland include:

• more intense storms and rainfall events
• an increased likelihood of flooding in rivers and on the coast, where almost all our cities and large towns are situated
• water shortages in summer in the east and the need for  irrigation of crops
• changes in the distribution of species
• the possible extinction of vulnerable species