Climate change will mean the average temperatures in Ireland will increase by 1.4 to 1.8 degrees Celsius by 2050, according to a new report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ireland.

“Climate Change in Ireland: Refining the Impacts for Ireland” outlines the expected changes the nation needs to prepare for in coming decades. They include:

• Average temperature increases of more than 2 degrees Celsius by 2100;
• Greater warming during summer and autumn, with the the midlands and east warming more than coastal areas;
• Increased rainfall (10 per cent) in winter and decreased rainfall (12 to 17 per cent) in summer by 2050;
• Decreased summer rainfall of 30 to 40 per cent for the southern and eastern coasts by 2080;
• Changing frequency of extreme events, with a greater chance of longer heat waves and drought.

“We are looking at changes in extremes at both ends of the spectrum, more rain and more intense rainfall at one end and then heat waves and droughts at the other,” said John Sweeney, the report’s lead author. “However, considerable uncertainty still remains in several areas, particularly in relation to rainfall. A risk management type approach to adaptation will be required to take account of these uncertainties.”

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