Ireland must be 'much better prepared' for extreme weather events
The government is being urged to provide funding and support to ensure Ireland is "much better prepared" for extreme weather events.
The Climate Change Advisory Council has called for increased resources to sustain and improve the national climate observation system.
This system includes monitoring of all critical atmospheric, land and ocean variables.
The council has also advised the government to establish a "National Climate Damage Register" to monitor and record the economic, social and environmental impacts of extreme weather events.
The council has today (Wednesday, March 19) launched the first publication of its 2025 annual review series which examines Ireland’s changing climate, projected future changes and the critical need to adapt.
The Council said that "the fingerprints of climate change" are increasingly evident in the intensifying magnitude and frequency of certain extreme events, particularly heavy rainfall and heatwaves.
2024 was the warmest year globally, ever, and it was the fourth warmest year in Ireland with spring, here, being the sixth wettest on record.
The report highlighted the impact of storms Isha, Bert and Darragh which brought particularly strong winds, high rainfall and significant flood damage in counties Donegal; Kerry; Cork; Limerick and Galway.
Storm Éowyn, which hit Ireland in January, set new all-time records for measured wind speed in Ireland, with sustained hurricane-force winds of 142km/hr and gusts of 184km/hr recorded at Mace Head, Co. Galway.
The storm left 768,000 premises without power, over 200,000 without water and over one million customers without broadband or phone coverage.
ESB reported that it took 19 days to fully restore all connections, compared to seven and eight days taken during Storms Darragh and Ophelia, respectively.
There was widespread damage to farm sheds and polytunnels, while some forestry stocks were destroyed.
Insurance claims arising from the storm are expected to reach €150–200 million
"Storm Éowyn has exposed Ireland’s vulnerability and lack of resilience in terms of critical infrastructure and services when coping with extreme climate events," the report said.
The council has said that the government must ensure that the funding and necessary supports are in place, underpinned by appropriate legislation, to sustain and improve the national climate observing system.
“The time to act is now. Government cannot procrastinate any longer," Peter Thorne, chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council’s Adaptation Committee said.
"Proactive action can and must improve our preparedness for and response to rapidly emerging climate risks, to protect and support people, and future proof our communities.
"This must be underpinned by robust climate data and services," he said.
Thorne noted that the council has highlighted the inadequacy of Ireland’s approach to address our changing climate over many years.
"We have consistently called for investment and legislation to address the vulnerability and lack of resilience within our critical infrastructure and services in coping with extreme climate events.
“If we do not put the structures and resources in place we will increasingly expose people and communities to the destructive effects of extreme weather events, magnifying future costs and risks to society,” he said.
