How Does Any of This Affect Me?

Climate change, global warming and depleting stocks of fossil fuels will not only affect us - It will affect the generations that follow us.

 

  • Currently we are not on track to achieve our targets. The Irish government has conceded that it will miss its 2020 renewable energy targets. The estimated costs associated with missing these targets are in the region of €195,000,000 to €390,000,000 per annum. When operational, Derrykillew renewable energy will help to reduce these costs.
  • Extreme weather events affect us all. As a result of global warming we are experiencing more extreme weather events such as those leading to severe flooding along with more intense storms. Should global warming go unchecked we will experience more severe weather and more intense storms. 
  • The EPA reports that 3 people die prematurely every day in Ireland directly as a result of poor air quality
  • Urban settlements situated on major inland rivers such as the River Shannon and coastal settlements.
  • Ireland's agricultural industry will face severe challenges. This will be in terms of more severe weather events, challenges in terms of changing disease controls, and challenges in terms of policy changes aimed at reducing carbon emissions.
  • Infrastructure - Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has warned that drainage channels and culverts around older bridges may have to be replaced as a result of the increased volumes of water associated with climate change and Irish Water have said that increased flooding could hamper the ability of their plants to provide clean and safe drinking water.
  • EU and government policy which are centered around moving Europe and Ireland towards low carbon economies will affect policy into the future. This will have a knock on impact on the way in which we carry on our daily lives
  • Should Ireland not tackle its imported fossil fuel dependencies, we will be exposed to any volatility which would accompany the importation of fuel which is sourced from the decreasing fossil fuels reserves and this in a world which has an every increasing energy demand
  • It is now accepted within the scientific community that unless action is taken to limit global temperature increase to 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels, climate change will have serious and dramatic impacts all of our ways of life.