Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
ULSTER’S 31.3C
WMO issues warning after ‘extreme weather’ Planet breaks four climate records last year UN appeal over fossil fuels ‘before it’s too late’
A RECORD 31.3C temperature in Ulster last year has been highlighted in the latest World Meteorological Organisation report on escalating climate change.
The mercury in Castlederg, Co Tyrone, hit a new height during one of five extreme weather events recorded across the island of Ireland as a result of the crisis.
The WMO also warned in its State of the Global Climate report that four key records were broken in 2021: greenhouse gas concentrations, sea-level rise, ocean warming, and acidification.
The organisation said while extreme weather is the “day-to-day face” of climate change, the records are “yet another clear sign that human activities are causing planetary-scale changes on land, in the ocean and in the atmosphere, with harmful and long-lasting ramifications for sustainable development and ecosystems”.
According to the new report, the last seven years have been the warmest on record.
In Ireland that resulted in an unusual dry spell and drought lasting up to 30 days from May 29.
A heatwave of 10 days from July 16 saw record temperatures at 14 of the country’s 25 weather stations, six of which continued for 10 days.
Two rare tropical nights were observed in July, with daily minimum temperatures exceeding 20C in Co Kerry, while an unusual heat wave that started in September lasted for three months.
The country also saw potentially the warmest September and autumn in the 122 years since records began.
November 26 saw an extratropical cyclone lasting for two days, while Storm Arwen “brought northerly gales and up to storm force 10 winds”.
One county reached a red sustained wind warning level (>80kph) with another hitting orange sustained wind warning level (65-80kph).
One person died during the storm and 4,000 homes were left without power.
There was travel disturbance on coastal road because of large waves, while ferry sailings from Belfast and Larne ports and Ballycastle to Rathlin Island were cancelled on Friday 26.
The fifth extreme weather event recorded on the island of Ireland by Met Eireann last year was Storm Barra which brought violent force 11 winds, causing a red wind warning in five counties, orange in two, and yellow in a further six in December.
Most schools and public transport shut down in red and orange weather warning areas.
The WMO said while the economic losses “would be significant” the amount is unknown at this point.
Around 59,000 homes were left without power, flights and ferries were cancelled, and flooding was reported in Cork, Kerry, Waterford and Dublin. Falling debris also hit some ambu
lance, health, rail, bus and creche services on December 7 while schools in 12 counties stayed closed the next day.
WMO secretary general Prof Petteri Taalas said: “Extreme weather has the most immediate impact on our daily lives.
“Years of investment in disaster preparedness means we are better at saving lives, though economic losses are soaring.
“But much more needs to be done as we are seeing with the drought emergency unfolding in the Horn of Africa, the recent deadly flooding in South Africa and the extreme heat in
India and Pakistan.” The organisation plans to roll out early warning systems to help all its member countries adapt to climate changes in the next five years.
Just a month ago, United Nations secretary general Antonio Guterres accused governments and companies of adding fuel to the
climate crisis fire.
Yesterday, he hit out at “the dismal litany of humanity’s failure to tackle climate disruption” following publication of the WMO flagship report.
Yet again he called for urgent action to grab the “low-hanging fruit” of transforming energy systems away from “dead end” fossil fuels.
Mr Guterres added: “The global energy system is broken and bringing us ever closer to climate catastrophe.
“Fossil fuels are a dead end – environmentally and economically.
“The war in Ukraine and its immediate effects on energy prices is yet another wake-up call.
“The only sustainable future is a renewable one.
“We must end fossil fuel pollution and accelerate the renewable energy transition, before we incinerate our only home.”
The UN boss proposed five critical actions to jump-start the renewable energy transition:
A global coalition on battery storage to fast-track innovation and deployment
Supply chain expansion for renewable energy technology and raw materials
Reform to level the playing field for renewables with streamlined project applications
End fossil fuel subsidies which amount to £9million a minute globally
Triple private and public investments in renewables to at least $3trillion a year
Mr Guterres added: “Renewables are the only path to real energy security, stable power prices and sustainable employment.
“If we act together, the renewable energy transformation can be the peace project of the 21st century.”