The increased ferocity and intensity of storms that battered the Irish coast in recent days can be attributed to man-made climate change, says one of the country’s foremost experts on climate change.

Having lived next to Fermoy’s Blackwater River for over two decades, I was amazed by UCC Professor Robert Devoy’s claim on RTÉ’s Primetime that Fermoy’s floods were in some way caused by the building of the bridge.

THE ESB has agreed to meet Cork residents who bore the brunt of last November’s massive flood.

SOME of those worst hit by the recent devastating floods in Cork are due to meet next week to discuss how they can prepare for future similar disasters.

ONE of the country’s foremost experts on climate change has questioned the wisdom of proceeding with dockland developments in Cork and Dublin, when rising sea water levels pose such a threat to Irish cities.

BACK in 1978, leading earth scientist Dr John Mercer predicted that an increase of 10C in summer temperatures in central Antarctica could result in global sea level rises of up to six metres.

EVEN the most resilient and optimistic among us must be approaching misery overload. If the economy and soaring unemployment figures don’t push you towards the edge then there’s always the predictions about the awful impact climate change will have on our world, especially our children’s world.

UP to half of Ireland’s 5,800km of coastline is in danger of disappearing beneath the sea because of global warming, a leading academic has warned.