Drought will strike southeast by 2020, says EPA

A new scientific report has predicted that southeastern parts of Ireland will suffer from drought within 15 years as a result…

A new scientific report has predicted that southeastern parts of Ireland will suffer from drought within 15 years as a result of climate change.

The report, to be published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) later this month, predicts significant climate change impact on the country from 2020.

EPA deputy director general, Dr Padraic Larkin, said the report would show that "increased storm intensity, more intense rainfall during the winter months and prolonged dry periods during the summer" are among the likely outcomes.

The report was drawn up for the EPA by climate change experts at NUI Maynooth.

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The experts, led by Dr John Sweeney, predict temperature rises of an average of between one and 1.5 degrees above 1990 levels by 2020.

These will spark warmer, dryer summers in the southeast of the country. The report warns of water shortages within this region by 2020 unless action is taken.

It also predicts a significant increase in flooding risk, particularly in northwestern regions because of an increase in storm intensity across the country and rainfall levels in the west.

The report goes into considerable detail in its predictions, including what is expected to occur in certain rivers. For example it estimates that the Boyne and tributaries of the Liffey will experience a significant drop in water flows during summer months, but will also experience increased risk of flooding during other periods.

The warning comes as a UN panel of scientists and advisers prepares to issue one of the most important reports to date on climate change in Paris today.