Ireland is likely to face more extreme weather events such as the recent flooding and storm surges, increased water restrictions and shortages of animal fodder and even food due to drought as the impacts of global warming become more severe. That’s what some of our experts have deduced from the latest report by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which said that the impacts of global warming were already being felt “on all continents and across the oceans”.
It found that the “observed impacts” were substantial and widespread, that some future risks would have “large or irreversible” consequences for different sectors and regions, and that a risk-management approach to these threats should support adaptation and mitigation efforts.
Without adaptation measures such as flood defences and early warning systems to prepare for disasters, the impacts of climate change are likely to be felt more strongly in future – particularly if no brakes are applied to year-on-year record greenhouse gas emissions. Any plus in terms of warmer summers throughout western Europe would be offset by losses due to “extreme precipitation”, flooding in river basins and on coasts, sea level rise, drought-related water shortages and “extreme heat events affecting crop production”.
Climate change research specialist at the Environmental Protection Agency, says current projections of the impacts of global warming were similar to what’s outlined in the IPCC report “although the variability here is much greater than other parts of the world”.
Coastal flooding
With its Atlantic weather system, Ireland is vulnerable to extreme events such as the recent exceptionally heavy rainfall and coastal flooding. The head of the Irish climate analysis and research unit at NUI Maynooth, Prof Sweeney, says the likelihood of more extreme weather events “is corroborated from the report” of the IPCC, which explicitly links such events with increasing temperatures.
Office of Public Works
In September 2004, the Government confirmed the Office of Public Works (OPW) as the State’s lead agency in flooding, to be tasked with delivering an integrated multifaceted programme aimed at mitigating future risk and impact. According to the OPW, floods are a natural and inevitable part of life in Ireland and are usually caused by a combination of events including overflowing river banks, coastal storms or blocked or overloaded drainage ditches. Numerous severe floods have occurred throughout the country in the last decade causing millions of euros worth of damage not to mention pain and suffering for property owners and their families. Since the impacts of flooding have been so devastating, the OPW says it is important that people whose properties are at risk should take appropriate action to resist flooding!
Risks of flooding
- Damage to buildings/equipment/stock
- Loss of sales revenue
- Possible business closure permanently
- Loss of market share due to being unable to deliver/supply products v competitors
- Loss of rental from tenants
- Low staff morale
- Negative effect on company reputation
- Insurance cover not sufficient/being withdrawn
- Increased insurance premiums
- Increased policy excess in respect of flood cover