Elaine Loughlin: We must prepare to offer céad míle fáilte to climate refugees

Roderic O'Gorman says Ireland should prepare to accommodate increasing numbers of international protection applicants

The Red Cross estimates that by 2050, 200m people a year will need international humanitarian aid as a result of  climate-related disasters and the socioeconomic impact of climate change. Picture: Pervez Masih/AP

The record 13,319 people who sought international protection in Ireland over the last 12 months cannot be seen as a blip.

While wars, oppressive political regimes, earthquakes and other one-off natural disasters have previously sparked mass movements of people fleeing their homes, changes in climate across the globe have become a major threat to many communities.