Warning over threat of rising sea levels

Devastating once-a-century coastal floods could happen every 10 years, climate change experts today warned.

A report on the effect of global warming on tourism claimed sea levels could increase by 18-59cm by the 2080s and possibly by as much as 1 metre.

About 680km sq of coastland, including parts of all major cities, are under threat from huge sea surges and flooding at the height of the Spring tides.

The report also warned Ireland’s tag of the Emerald Isle could be under threat from increased droughts – like the summer of 1995 – turning lush grasslands brown.

Environment Minister John Gormley launched the report and warned of the immediate threat climate change has on Ireland’s heritage.

“Climate change presents an immediate and significant threat to our natural and built environments and to ways of life which co-exist within these environments,” he said.

“Climate change is happening and even if we are successful in terms of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, the impacts from the build up of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere is something we are going to have to grapple with for many decades to come.”

The flood warnings were detailed by Rowan Fealy and Conor Murphy from NUI Maynooth.

The report, Climate Change, Heritage and Tourism – Implications for Ireland’s Coast and Inland Waterways, went on to warn angling tourism could be hit if salmon and trout stocks are damaged by rising temperatures.

Native plants could become extinct while new invasive species come in.

But the report said the temperate climate should be capable of absorbing the predicted changes in climate over the next 100 years without unacceptable discomfort for visitors or taking away from the main reasons people visit here - people, culture and landscape.

Climate change may even be a positive for some coastal areas with resorts developing.

Shaun Quinn, Failte Ireland chief executive, said: “In some places, it (the report) paints a stark picture of the consequences of inaction in the face of the possible challenges which climate change may pose”.

Michael Starrett, Heritage Council chief executive, said plans need to be put in place now to deal with the effects of climate change

“The changes to Ireland’s climate are putting the heritage of Ireland’s coast and inland waterways under increased pressure, impacting seriously on related tourism activities,” Mr Starrett said.

“If we are to cope with the environmental and economic threats we face we need to plan now in an integrated way across all sectors.”