Ireland is paying a high price because of successive governments’ failures on climate action and adaptation, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore.
Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on climate, said:
“The latest report from the Climate Change Advisory Council makes for stark reading. It confirms that 2025 was Ireland’s second warmest year on record, with seven of the 10 warmest years occurring since 2005. Six of the 10 wettest autumns have also been recorded since 2001.
“More frequent extreme weather events, driven by greenhouse gasses, will continue to pose serious risks to lives and livelihoods if we fail to prepare for them.
“This Government is constantly in reactive mode, treating major storms as isolated events instead of anticipating them and putting adequate climate adaptation measures in place.
“While emergency responses have become the norm, instead we need strategic planning to mitigate the risks. We have become all too familiar with the catastrophic damage caused to our coastal communities, as well as towns and villages located close to waterways. This is due to failures by successive governments to climate-proof our infrastructure or invest in flood relief schemes, urban drainage and weather-resistant housing.
“The very real impact of climate change results in families dealing with repeated flooding, farmers facing unpredictable seasons and communities left waiting for supports.
“But there is another way. We need a long-term climate adaptation plan, accelerated flood defence investment and cross-department coordination.
“We are on a road to ruin if we keep treating climate events as surprises. The cycle of damage and repair is costing more than prevention.
“Unfortunately, I have little confidence this Government will start taking its climate mitigation and adaptation responsibilities seriously anytime soon. Today marks the start of the second quarter of the year and there is still no sign of the new Climate Action Plan.”
April 1, 2026