Caitríona Redmond: Are Irish consumers ready for the costs of climate change?

A trip to London was a superheated eye-opener, writes Caitríona Redmond

People walk in the shade through Ely Park in Cambridgeshire during the recent heatwave.

SOME 10 days ago, I took the family to London for a holiday. As usual, I did it all on a tight budget, but I definitely noticed price differences compared with previous years.

The yardstick for a decent holiday when the kids were younger was whether the place we were staying had a pool. If there was a swimming pool for them to splash in, we’d know we’d organise at least two swims a day. The kids would be happily tired out, and it would be a success.

Now that they’re older, if I want to keep the teen away from their phone, I need to find something entertaining enough to hold their attention for longer than a reel or TikTok. It’s all about playing to their interests. 

I could decide that a long hike in an area with no phone signal was the solution — and I have done so in the past — but school holidays can be tricky because hiking every day is not my idea of a restful break... although I am fond of a long mental health walk when I can.

London is one of my favourite cities to visit with people of all ages because there’s so much to see and do for free. The museums are a real highlight for younger children and teens, very accessible, and there’s oodles to keep every brain occupied. For film and TV buffs, there’s a film set around every corner, and there are also plenty of shopping opportunities, if that’s your jam.

I knew London would be warm as we left behind a balmy 23C at Dublin Airport, and I instantly noticed the cabin was sweltering. The captain announced England’s capital had already reached 31C before midday. I realised then that navigating the high temperatures would be a challenge.

What I hadn’t allowed for was the heat dome extending over western Europe. Coincidentally, London Climate Action Week was also running while I was in the city, but the heat put paid to my plans to attend some talks. It was simply too warm.

Back in Ireland, the heat continued to rise, though not to the same extent as in Britain, where a provisional record of 37.7C was reached in Norfolk on June 26.

Back in London, the thermometer exceeded 36C. However, it felt warmer than this at times due to the lack of shelter around built-up areas and the superheating of spaces between tall office buildings, along with the Tube, which became an insufferable soup of stale, hot air circulating around cranky passengers.

London adapted to the extreme heat by encouraging people to work from home. Some schools shut, travel on public transport was classed as ‘essential only’, and everyone gravitated to the shade. Some canny pharmacies and pound shops made a fortune selling rechargeable handheld fans, which really only circulated the hot, stale air around them, but anything was better than feeling like you were struggling to breathe.

I felt like I was walking into a role-play scenario. For the past two years, I’ve been studying for a master’s in climate change. I’m still working on my final piece of research, but I hope to finish by the end of this month. Along with fellow students, we have discussed these kinds of scenarios at length in classes, conventions, and workshops with lecturers and experts in their fields. How to adapt to high heat was one of the first projects we undertook.

It is terrifying to think the projects and learning we had gone through were being implemented in just two short years.

There’s another heatwave on the horizon, and that reminds me, once again, that Ireland is really not prepared for the levels of heat I experienced in London. 

Adapting to climate change costs money, and at the moment, much of the spending on climate adaptation is focused on insulating homes against extreme cold and energy loss. The side-effect is that a warm home becomes even hotter when temperatures rise.

The cost or burden of adaptation is felt most by more vulnerable populations. Simply put, those with more money are more insulated from the effects of climate change, as they have the means to implement adaptations and mitigations.

The World Health Organization estimates more than 1,300 excess deaths can be attributed to the recent heat dome over western Europe, but the final figure is likely to be far higher.

As the next heatwave approaches, now is the time to rethink your cooling strategies, plan how you will cope if the heat becomes oppressive, and learn the signs of heatstroke. Always keep plenty of drinks to hand, and consider investing in a fan and thermal curtains or blinds to protect your home from the heat. Whatever you do, don’t put tinfoil on your windows, as this can cause double- and triple-glazed units to fail because they are designed to trap heat inside the house.

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New EU legislation on testing for Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat items in Ireland has taken effect. Over the coming weeks and months, you may notice an increase in the number of ready-to-eat items recalled from supermarkets.

The stricter testing rules took effect on July 1 and apply to what we would classify as ‘salad items’ or ‘picky bits’, including refrigerated salads, cheeses, and cooked meats. Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium mainly transmitted via contaminated foods.

It can lead to a serious illness in humans known as listeriosis. Certain people are particularly vulnerable to severe illness, such as pregnant women, infants, older adults, and people with weaker immune systems.

For now, keep an eye on the Food Safety Authority website, as it expects more recalls to follow. 

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