Ireland will face more flooding and extreme weather events unless it moves away from fossil fuels, Met Éireann climatologist Paul Moore has warned.
This statement follows the European Union Copernicus Climate Change Service confirming that 2025 was the third warmest year on record.
Speaking on RTÉ’s *Today With David McCullagh*, Mr Moore explained: “The higher the temperatures go, the more extreme events that we can expect.” He emphasized that the 1.5°C global warming threshold above pre-industrial levels was set to allow us to limit greenhouse gas emissions, but that this target has not been met, reports The Mirror.
He added, “That hasn’t happened, so we are continuing towards that trend at an accelerated rate. The higher the temperatures go, the more moisture that can hold in the atmosphere. That means more flooding events and more extreme weather events for us,” reports The Mirror.
Mr Moore further stated: “Unless we can bring them (greenhouse gas emissions) down to zero emissions or to net-zero emissions, then the temperatures will continue to rise. It is putting out the call to get our act together globally and to bring down emissions so we can stop this trend,” reports The Mirror.
The climatologist also discussed rapid attribution studies conducted with Maynooth University’s ICARUS Climate Research Centre, specifically the ‘WASITUS’ study. He explained that the rainfall from Storm Claudia in Wexford was 12% heavier due to the warming climate and is now twice as likely to happen, reports The Mirror.
He also pointed to a study from last summer, which showed it was the warmest summer on record in Ireland and 40 times more likely to be a record-breaking summer in terms of temperature than in pre-industrial times.
“What once was a 600-year event is now a one in 15-year event, due to the warming climate,” Mr Moore added, reports The Mirror.
On a more positive note, he highlighted that the technology to transition away from fossil fuels already exists. “That is the positive as long as we do it,” he said, reports The Mirror.
Meanwhile, public policy advisor Oisín Coughlan stated that climate change is “coming faster than the models predicted” and faster than expected when the Paris Agreement was signed. He reinforced Mr Moore’s point about the available technology, noting that “it has improved hugely over the last ten years,” reports The Mirror.
He pointed out that solar power is now the cheapest way to generate electricity worldwide, but added, “The technology has really moved, but the politics has got worse.”
“I really think the next five years is actually a battle between the technology and the politics. The politics needs to catch up with the technology,” Mr Coughlan said, reports The Mirror.
He also stressed the benefits of transitioning to clean energy, including cheaper electricity, reduced dependence on fossil fuels, and lower fuel bills. However, he acknowledged that “getting there is the challenge.”
Mr Coughlan emphasized that the Government must do more to assist people with the expense of retrofitting homes and collaborate with organizations that work with those facing energy poverty, reports The Mirror.
“We have to be much more proactive about how we do this, and we need to accompany people through what is a challenging process, but the outcome will be very positive,” he said, reports The Mirror.
He reiterated that removing reliance on fossil fuels is in Ireland’s “national interest” and not just about “some whimsical environmental desire,” reports The Mirror.
Reflecting on past efforts, Mr Coughlan remarked that 20 years ago, it was difficult to engage people with climate change in Ireland. “Now we are seeing it, Storm Éowyn, the floods in Midleton, the floods in Wexford last year. We all know that the rain now is more intensive bursts… and the warmer summers and the warmer nights… we are seeing it here,” he said, reports The Mirror.
On infrastructure, Mr Coughlan noted: “Our country isn’t built for the climate that we are moving into.” He concluded: “So as well as cutting pollution and saving money, we also do need to start the adaptation, the coping of what is about to come,” reports The Mirror.
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