Experts believe that climate change may have a severe effect on Ireland in the following ways: There may be more rain in winter, leading to more incidences of flooding. There may be more frequent storms. Summers may become warmer. There may be less rainfall in the summer and autumn months, leading to severe water shortages. Our green countryside may be replaced by dried grasses in summer and autumn. Higher temperatures and lower rainfall in summer would negatively affect our fresh water fisheries. Farmers may no longer be able to grow potatoes as a commercially viable crop. Bog bursts may be more frequent, as dry mountain bogs tear free from their bedrock.
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Science in Society Research the frequency and impact of storms and flooding in recent years in your community.
Fig. 18 Heavy rains in recent years have led to more instances of flooding.
Activity Group Discussion 1. If all other lifestyle factors were equal, do you think a vegetarian or a person who eats meat has a greater carbon footprint? Discuss.
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2. The world has over 7 billion people. Can one individual make a difference to climate change? Discuss.
40.6 Initiatives to address climate change
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
The UNFCCC is an international treaty. Member countries joined together to consider what they could do to limit global warming and climate change. It was set up in 1992 in Rio do Janeiro at a major conference known as the Earth Summit. The convention encourages member countries to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations ‘at
a level that would prevent dangerous human-induced interference with the climate system’. It does not set compulsory limits. Most countries in the world are members, including Ireland. The convention led to the development of the Kyoto Protocol.
