Forecasters at Met Éireann have reportedly been warned against showing “despair” on climate change.

The Times Ireland reports that staff have been told to use more positive language when speaking about the crisis.

According to the paper, an internal communiqué has suggested that using words like “inevitable” could lead people to believe that there is nothing that can be done.

The set of guidelines stipulates that people should be told they can make a difference to reduce the effects of climate change.

The forecaster said it introduced the changes following an increase in queries about weather and the impact of human activity on the planet.

Smoke and steam rise from the chimneys and cooling towers in the Laziska coal-fired power plant near Katowice, Poland. Image: Monika Skolimowska/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa

It advises forecasters to use metaphors like “the weather of steroids” or describe global warming as “stacking the deck” towards more extreme weather events.

Forecasters are encouraged to admit that that climate change is making extreme weather events more likely – and the document notes that it is important to be clear that climate change is underway and has been caused by human activity.

It comes as a movement of school children protesting Government inaction on climate change gathers pace around the world.

The protests follow a number of dire reports on climate change and humanity's future.

In October, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that "rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society" are needed to limit the levels of global warming.

In November, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) warned that countries around the world will have to triple their efforts to cut greenhouse gases to have any chance of preventing a climate change catastrophe.

Last week meanwhile, scientists confirmed that the last five years have been the warmest on record.

The various school walk-out movements have been coordinating their efforts in recent weeks and a day of global school strikes is scheduled for March 15th.