Academy Urges Action On Climate Change

The Academy of Engineers has told the Government that climate change threatens Ireland's critical infrastructure.

In their latest report, Critical Infrastructure - adaptation for climate change, the academy says that even if greenhouse gases are capped at 2000 levels, climate change will have a major impact in the coming decades due to "inertia" in the climate system.

The announcement comes as the Government Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin meets students at a model United Nation’s Conference, where he'll be addressing the issue of climate.

Among some of the threats posed by a change in climate, the Academy says that as a nation we are facing changing rainfall patterns, which will affect water supplies; rising sea levels that will inundate coastal cities and towns as well as severe weather incidents.

The report argues that adaptation to the uncertain future is now "urgent" in Ireland as elsewhere.

Speaking today ahead of his meeting, Minister Martin said he was looking forward to speaking to students at the Conference on climate issues.

He said: "During my speech I will also re-affirm Ireland’s determination to work to secure a deal at the Copenhagen Environment Summit next month."

The Academy of Engineering will publish the 40-page report on climate change impacts today, which includes discussions between 60 researchers, engineers, scientists and policy experts.

(DW/BMcc)