In Ireland it is said to rain so much that land is not sold by the acre – but by the bucketful. That could all change in the years ahead as the rate of global warming accelerates and less rain falls across the country, according to Irish meteorologists. Dr Saji Varghese, head of research and environment at Met Éireann, the Irish meteorological service, says it is likely that Ireland will experience significant rises in temperature, with the average set to increase by more than 1°C by mid-century. Speaking at a special Citizens Assembly in Dublin, held to discuss the impacts of climate change in Ireland, Varghese said that overall amounts of rainfall are likely to decrease. Participants heard that while there had been considerable progress in Ireland in areas such as developing sustainable energy systems, not nearly enough was being done to meet the challenges posed by a warming world. The government was prioritising economic growth above all else, the gathering was told. The public was still largely disengaged or ill-informed on the issue.
Climate News Network 13h Oct 2017 read more »