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Chapter 3: Climate Change
Climate Change Impacts and
Adaptation
The impacts of climate change are evident on all
continents and in all oceans.
Observed climate change impacts are most evident in the
global temperature record, sea-level rise, loss of glaciers
and ice-sheets and changes in the nature and intensity
of precipitation events. These have impacted on human
health, water resources and management systems,
ecosystems, food production and rates and levels of
coastal flooding. Global projections indicate that oceans
will continue to warm, sea-level rise will continue during
this century and sea-ice and glacier volumes will further
decrease. Studies have shown that the intensity and
frequency of extreme events are increasing and will further
increase as a result of climate change (IPCC, 2013a). The
character and severity of the impacts of climate extremes
depend not only on the extremes themselves but also on
exposure and vulnerability to these extremes.
The effects of climate change are projected to further
impact on food production systems, water resources,
coastal infrastructure, critical services and urban centres,
resulting in increased displacement of people, societal
stress and loss of land and other assets. Ireland’s climate
is changing in line with regional and global trends.
Further climate change is projected to have diverse and
wide-ranging impacts on the environment, society and
economic sectors (see Box). Adaptation actions will be
required to reduce adverse impacts and increase resilience
to these and other impacts of climate change.
Sectoral Impacts of Climate Change
for Ireland
n
Agriculture:
the main impacts are expected to
result from changes in air and soil temperatures,
changes in rainfall patterns and extreme events.
n
Marine environment:
changes in ocean
temperature and acidity are projected to continue,
resulting in changes to marine ecosystems and
species, which will have implications for fisheries.
n
Biodiversity:
increasing temperatures will impact
upon the geographical range and phenology
(the timing of life cycle events) of native
species. Projected shifts in climate, temperature
and precipitation may result in the increased
occurrence of invasive species and competitive
pressures on Ireland’s native species.
n
Coastal zones:
sea-level rise is projected to
increase coastal erosion and flooding, including
effects on major coastal cities.
n
Critical infrastructure:
water, energy,
communications, transport and emergency services
are at risk from a range of projected changes,
including sea-level rise, increasing temperatures,
changing rainfall patterns and extreme weather
events.
n
Water management:
the projected changes are
expected to impact on water management and
will exacerbate existing pressures in terms of water
supply, quality and flooding.
n
Human health and wellbeing:
increasing
temperatures are likely to result in the increased
incidence of heat-related mortality. However, an
overall decrease in temperature-related mortality
is expected because of decreases in levels of cold-
related mortality. Increases in extreme events will
have significant impacts on psychological health
and wellbeing.
(Source: Climate Ireland)
National Policy Development
In December 2009, a carbon tax was introduced at a rate
of €15 per tonne on certain uses of fossil fuels outside the
EU ETS. This has since increased to €20 per tonne and,
since April 2014, applies to all fossil fuels, including coal
and peat. The carbon tax is estimated to reduce emissions
by about 0.3 Mt CO
2
equivalent per annum. There are
a number of other schemes and incentives to increase
energy efficiency. These are outlined in Chapter 11.