The cold, hard facts about climate change in Ireland are chilling
THERE’S no doubting there’ll be winners and losers with climate change. Coastal Dublin may be underwater in 20 years but at least everybody in Tallaght will own a beach-front property.
It’s mad to think the most expensive neighbourhoods in the country, seafront, sea views or by the river, are the most threatened.
So if you win the Lotto this week, make sure that €3.4million mansion in Dalkey comes with a flotation device. Or is on wheels.
And in a worst-case scenario, the not-too-distant future could see us holidaying on the Costa del Navan or scuba-diving above the Lost City of Drogheda.
A report out this week warns up to 70,000 Irish homes could be underwater by 2050. This is no longer way-in-the-future stuff – it’s happening now.
You’ll hear Irish people say things like: “Sure a bit of global warming will give us great auld summers – no need to fly to Spain any more!”
But of course, that’s not how it works.
Did you know Ireland is on the same latitude as Canada’s Hudson Bay, parts of southern Alaska and Siberia?
At a latitude of 52 north, we’re on the same line as Berlin (where you’ll spend most of the winter shin-deep in snow and well below freezing) or Irkutsk in Siberia where the average
We have to start taking it seriously, or start learning to build igloos
January temperature is -20C. So what gives us our mild climate?
If you were paying attention in geography class, it is – of course – the sea and the warming Gulf Stream.
But if the planet heats up by a few degrees it’s bye-bye Gulf Stream and hello snowshoes, sleds and husky teams to get you to the pub in
February. Climate change does not mean orange groves outside Mullingar or camels roaming the desert sands of Offaly, it’ll mean catastrophic winter storms and plenty more walruses where Wally came from.
Not to be on too much of a downer here, but we have to start taking this stuff seriously or start learning how to build igloos.