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The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment has confirmed that four regional offices will be set up to work with local authorities to help cope with the impact of climate change in Ireland.
The offices are expected to lead a more co-ordinated approach between local authorities in dealing with extreme weather events, such as Storm Ophelia, with the bulk of their work focused on adjusting to the increased risk of flooding.
It’s expected that part of the plan will be to encourage county councils to purchase land that’s vulnerable to flooding and put it to a more targeted use that will mitigate flood risk.
Last year three people died as a result of Storm Ophelia and farmers in Donegal experienced some of the worst flooding the county has seen in decades.
More flooding
Met Éireann’s head climatologist Séamus Walsh said last December that the forecaster expected more flooding in Ireland by 2050 due to climate change.
“There will be wetter winters, with more extreme weather events, which will lead to more flooding,” Walsh said.
He also noted that two of the last three winters had seen rainfall levels not seen since 1850.
“Clearly, something is happening,” he said.
More details are expected to be published later today when the minister in charge of the department, Denis Naughten presents the National Climate Change Mitigation Plan.
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