The burning question about Ireland

Richard Collins reviews a book on climate change

IRELAND’S greenhouse gas emissions are the second highest per capita of any country in the European Union and the fifth highest in the world. Temperatures worldwide have risen by 0.7°C since the Industrial Revolution and another 0.7ºC rise is inevitable no matter what we do. However, if temperatures rise by 2°C, many of the planet’s ecosystems won’t be able to cope. We have about two decades before it’s too late to prevent this looming disaster, according to UN scientists quoted in a book which has just been published.

Ireland’s Burning, How Climate Change Will Affect You, is by Paul Cunningham, RTÉ’s Environment Correspondent. Cunningham wants to dispel some of the ignorance and complacency surrounding climate change. He has interviewed key players in the field here, including academics, politicians, wave technology researchers, a marine zoologist, biofuel growers and a theologian.