Ireland’s construction industry must do more to prepare for the impact of climate change, the European Environment Agency has said. 

Yesterday, the EEA published a report warning Europeans to expect more extreme heat, drought and wildfires even under “optimistic global warming scenarios”. 

Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast, EEA expert on climate change adaptation Hans-Martin Füssel said the construction industry needs to think more long-term when it begins projects. 

“The report stresses there are various risks that can cascade and they’re connected with each other,” he said. 

“Wherever we do something long-term - be it planting trees, building new infrastructure, building houses, developing an area. 

“We need to think long-term; is that housing or infrastructure ready for the climate in 50 or maybe even 80 years?” 

Mr Füssel said it might be better to avoid building in certain parts of the country entirely, given the risk rising sea levels will pose to any homes built there. 

“We need to protect our coastal communities and ecosystems against sea level rises,” he said. 

“We need to harden our infrastructure, we need to think where we settle with increasing downpours.” 

Main image: Flooding in Cork. Picture by: Cork County Council.

Mr Füssel also said people need to take into account the increased risk of heatwaves in the years ahead. 

He acknowledged Ireland will not be at the “forefront” of this but noted people in Britain have recently endured “unprecedented” temperatures over 40°C and in southern Europe the mercury has begun to hit 45°C.

“We need to protect the most vulnerable,” he said. 

“People are already suffering from heat waves in parts of Europe, people are facing increasing flood insurance premiums. 

“So, there are already critical risks now to be addressed.” 

Tourists at the Roman Colosseum shelters under umbrellas from the hot sun, 15/07/2023. Image: amer ghazzal / Alamy Stock Photo

Carbon emissions in Ireland dropped by an estimated 4% last year and Mr Füssel said it is critical that they continue to drop. 

“There is no fixed threshold where you could say it falls below and it’s acceptable and above it it’s doom and gloom,” he said. 

“But we are reaching one problematic limit after the other if we don’t first mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, reduce them in line with the Paris Agreement.” 

The Government has committed itself to cutting emissions 51% by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050.

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Main image: Housing construction Ireland.