How Will Climate Change Affect Dublin?

Climate change has drastically affected many different areas of the world. From impacts on the weather, to an increased drought, to a lack of food production, climate change has had a huge impact on many places and people around the world. But how does climate change affect Ireland’s capital city Dublin?

Dublin and Ireland as a whole are known for their cold weather, but climate change could change this reputation. According to the World Resources Institute, or WRI, climate change could lead to heatwaves that last from 12-14 days, and as long as 25 days on average. Not only could they last longer, they may also happen more frequently. WRI predicts that Dublin could experience on average five to six heatwaves a year due to climate change. These projections are similar to those of New York City and London. These changes can affect citizens in multiple ways, from increased energy consumption to greater inequality to increased disease.

Climate change also puts the city at extreme risk of rising sea levels. Dublin ranked 23rd on a list of cities the most at risk of rising sea levels by climate.gov, a climate organization based in the United States. According to the organization, if the sea level rises by just 1.5 meters the first cities will be submerged underwater, and we are only about 8 years from that point. Several areas of Dublin are at risk of being completely submerged, namely Sandymount, Booterstown, Dublin Port, Clontarf, Dollymount Strand, Portmarnock and Howth. Sandymount residents have some flood defenses in place, but have proposed projects to better these measures. 

While Dublin is already known to be a very rainy city, precipitation and rainfall is expected to increase due to climate change. In the years between 1981-2010, rainfall has increased by 5%, and it is expected to increase by 20% in the winter and autumn months. The number of days with heavy rainfall is also expected to increase in the coming years due to climate change. The increased rainfall, and days with rainfall, is also expected to increase flooding in the city.

Climate change is expected to change the weather and living conditions of many different cities, including Ireland’s capital city of Dublin. The World Resources Institute predicts that climate change is expected to increase heatwaves in Dublin. Not only will heatwaves last longer, they will occur more often in the future. Dublin will also be impacted by increased sea level, with multiple areas of the city at risk of being submerged underwater in the coming years. Climate change is also predicted to make the rainy city of Dublin even rainier than before. Climate change is expected to increase rainfall by 20% in the autumn and winter months, and the number of rainy days in Dublin is expected to increase. These changes will impact all of the citizens and visitors of the city, and could lead to major issues in the future. There is time to prevent these issues, but we need to act now to stop them.