Rising seas will force Irish householders to retreat inland

Thousands of householders will have to abandon coastal communities as sea levels rise, with Irish scientists now working on a “managed retreat” rather than a chaotic stream of climate refugees fleeing inland.

Scientists based at MaRei (Centre for Marine and Renewable Energy) are trying to develop solutions to lessen the effects of climate change which could seriously impact on the economy, agriculture, and infrastructure.

These include the potential loss of staple crops like potatoes, the disappearance of important coastal highways, melting tar on roads, and buckled railway tracks, as summer heatwaves rival southern Spain.