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Saturday 1 April 2023 Dublin: 9°C

# Climate Change

Last year
2022
# monsoon rains
Pakistan orders thousands to evacuate near flood-swollen rivers as death toll nears 1,000
Officials say this year’s monsoon flooding has affected more than 33 million people, destroying or badly damaging nearly a million homes.
# Climate
Leaves fall early in UK after heatwave as experts warn of Ireland's vulnerability
The Devon Wildlife Trust said it has observed signs of ‘false autumn’ at 60 nature reserves.
Voices
Opinion: Climate transition must happen - it's up to us whether by design or by disaster
Climate expert Ali Sheridan says we must call out obstacles to climate action – the misinformation, the lobbying, the delay tactics, the whataboutery.
# India
Flash flooding leaves 40 dead in northern India
Disasters caused by floods are common in India’s Himalayan north during the monsoon season, but scientists say they are becoming more frequent due to climate change.
# Drought
China plans to use chemicals to generate rain and save harvest
Parts of the country are enduring a record-breaking drought.
# debunked
Debunked: Yes, cows are a 'problem' when it comes to cutting greenhouse gas emissions
Two Facebook posts said cows are “not the problem” compared to emitting activities like flying.
# bad buzz
Bumblebee wings show stress of climate change on insect, says study
Scientists from Imperial College London and the Natural History Museum have published two papers analysing UK bumblebee populations.
# Disaster
Firefighters battle to save national park as forest fires continue in Spain and Portugal
A wildfire in Spain burnt up 10,000 hectares of land and forced the evacuation of 1,500 people, regional officials say.
# Climate
New development plan for 'urban quarter' in West Dublin
The neighbourhoods in the plan would follow the 15-minute city concept.
# New legislation
US President Biden signs landmark climate and healthcare bill into law
The measure is paid for by new taxes on large companies and stepped-up IRS enforcement of wealthy individuals and entities.
# european heatwave
Spain wildfire forces hundreds to evacuate as land destroyed
The fire was raging in the Aragon region where around 300 firefighters are trying to contain the blaze.
# debunked
Debunked: It is misleading to claim that 30-degree heat is 'normal' during an Irish summer
Social media users suggest that climate change has been exaggerated in recent weather reports.
THE MORNING LEAD
Government urged to hasten payments for surplus solar power ahead of feared energy shortages
A report by
Lauren Boland
Homes, farms and businesses will soon be able to sell surplus renewable energy back to the grid but have been waiting months for details.
Homes, farms and businesses will soon be able to sell surplus renewable energy back to the grid but have been waiting months for details.
Industry experts and Opposition politicians have said that the scheme should have been rolled out quickly and widely.
Most energy suppliers have not yet started payments but are planning to do so in the coming weeks and months, Lauren Boland reports.
# hot hot hot
Carlow hits 31.7 degrees to provisionally break Ireland's all-time August high temperature record
The mercury hit 30.5 degrees in Carlow yesterday.
# No rain
Drought declared for parts of England after driest summer in 50 years
The change could lead to more measures such as hosepipe bans.
# Climate Change
Houses are built to keep heat in and that's a problem during heatwaves, especially in cities
Heatwaves will become more frequent and intense as climate change worsens.
Irish buildings and homes are generally built to hold in heat rather than stay well ventilated and cool in the summer.
This is increasingly becoming a problem as temperatures rise.
UCD planning professor says more emphasis should be put on adapting buildings to deal with higher heat.
'Singing from the same climate hymn sheet': Met Éireann to level playing field of Irish data
Why heatwaves hit harder in cities - and how to combat rising temperatures
# high heat
Status Yellow: Warning for hot weekend as Carlow temperature tops 30 degrees
The high temperature warning will be in place for Leinster and Munster until 6am on Sunday.
# cooperation
Six EU countries send firefighters to help battle French wildfires
361 foreign firefighters were dispatched to assist their 1,100 French colleagues deployed in the worst-hit part of the French southwest.
# Climate Change
2022 had lowest extent of Antarctic sea ice on record for any July
Arctic sea ice cover meanwhile was 4% lower than average.
# heating up
Temperatures to stay in the 20s for most of this week ahead of possible heatwave
Met Éireann said this week will be sunny and dry for the most part across the country.
# peatlands
Government approves €75,000 funding for Abbeyleix Bog restoration
Restored peatlands play an important role in mitigating the effects of climate change.
# CLIMATE CRISIS
US Senate passes key legislation aimed at tackling climate change
US Vice President Kamala Harris cast the tie-breaking vote after an all-night session.
# renewables
Wind energy has provided 34% of Ireland’s power this year
July saw a two-fold increase in demand met by wind compared with the same period last year.
# California
Receding floodwater lets police evacuate people trapped in US Death Valley
It nearly equaled the record for rainfall in a single day in the valley.
# Agriculture
Citizens’ assembly on agriculture the wrong model, says farming group
The Labour Party has proposed a citizens’ assembly be held on the future of agriculture and food production.
# all together now
'Singing from the same climate hymn sheet': Met Éireann to level playing field of Irish data
A new project is trying to bring existing work on climate data by other organisations under one roof.
THE MORNING LEAD
Why heatwaves hit harder in cities - and how to combat rising temperatures
A report by
Céimin Burke
Ireland’s ageing and increasingly urban population means more people will be at risk from heat in the years ahead.
Voices
Climate activist: 'As we humans adapt to heatwaves, the quiet death of nature continues'
Irish climate activist Jessica Dunne says she fears this beautiful planet is running out of time.
# United States
Death toll from Kentucky floods rises to 25, with more fatalities expected
Torrential rain earlier this week caused unprecedented flash flooding in the east of the state.
# lack of the tie-tans
Spanish Prime Minister tells nation to avoid ties to save on air-con energy
Feeling a little more comfortable would save energy if it resulted in less air conditioning being used, he said.
# Greenhouse Gases
Greenwashing would be 'worst sin' and 'biggest risk' to Irish agriculture, says Eamon Ryan
After long discussions, the government agreed yesterday 25% reduction in agriculture emissions by 2030.
# Your Say
Poll: Is a 25% cut in agricultural emissions high enough?
The figure is among several targets set for sectors of society with the aim of reducing emissions by 51% by 2030.
# Climate Change
Emissions targets set by government 'problematic', climate watchdog warns
The statement added that Land Use Sector emissions must also be urgently addressed, but are currently excluded from the targets.
# emission cuts
Agriculture was the sticking point, but what are the emissions targets for all sectors?
While agriculture was a sticking point in recent days, the government came to an agreement yesterday.
# Transport
'Ridiculously low': Just 33 public EV charge points in 3 counties approved under govt scheme
The scheme was first announced in 2019.
Eamon Ryan says 'we have to do more' as greenhouse gas emissions top pre-pandemic levels
New grant for people without driveways to access electric vehicle charging
# Deal
Challenging but achievable: Govt announces 25% emission reduction target for agriculture sector
Weeks of negotiations were not completed before yesterday’s final Cabinet meeting of the summer.
The government previously set out a 22-30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions target for the agriculture sector.
Farming groups pushed for a target at the lower end but climate experts say close to 30% is needed to meet overall emissions targets.
The EPA said last week that Ireland’s 2021 greenhouse gas emissions increased compared to the previous year.
Explainer: Here's how (and why) sectors are being told to cut their emissions
# CLIMATE CRISIS
NGOs alarmed as Earth hits annual 'overshoot day'
The date marks a tipping point when people have used up “all that ecosystems can regenerate in one year”.
# Crunch time
'We're still working on it': Cabinet ends without agreement on agriculture emissions target
Negotiations between the two departments are set to continue on tomorrow.
Voices
Fire chief: Last week we witnessed the arrival of climate change in Britain
Dave Walton of Yorkshire Fire and Rescue describes the extreme conditions they faced last week and warns that it’s just the beginning.
# Hitting the ceiling
Crunch time for coalition as agriculture emissions divide parties ahead of Cabinet
Cabinet ministers may approve sectoral targets for reducing emissions on Wednesday – but only if a dispute over agriculture can be resolved.