IPCC Report echoes key findings of EPA publications on Ireland’s projected greenhouse gas emissions.
For Ireland to transform to a climate resilient, biodiversity rich and climate neutral economy by 2050, there needs to be a significant and immediate increase in the scale and pace of greenhouse gas emission reductions.
Irish authors and scientists contributed to the new report.
The EPA welcomes the publication of the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The report reaffirms and strengthens the findings in previous reports on the human impacts on climate change. This latest IPCC report provides new and important insights on the current state of the global climate system, and the steps needed to halt human-induced climate change. The EPA also welcomed the contributions by authors and scientists from Ireland to the report. The work of the IPCC relies on information and analysis provided by research and sustained systematic observations of the climate system. Commenting on the report Mr Frank McGovern, (EPA Chief Climate Scientist), said: “This is an important and timely report, which will be considered by policymakers at the COP26 meeting in November. However, the information it provides can inform decision making on climate change at all levels. It is essential that we maintain and develop targeted climate change research in Ireland. This is needed to inform actions here and, in particular, the responses that we require. This includes enhanced management of greenhouse gas emissions and removals, as well as the adaptation responses needed to ensure that we can manage the impacts of climate change”. Ms Laura Burke, (EPA Director General), said: “For Ireland the report underlines the key messages from the recent EPA publication on Ireland’s greenhouse gas emission projections, which states that the next decade needs to be one of major developments and advances in relation to Ireland’s response to climate change and there needs to be a significant and immediate increase in the scale and pace of greenhouse gas emission reductions. In addition, the IPCC report makes it clear that we must chart a course to achieve net-zero carbon dioxide emissions in the coming decades”.
The EPA leads in the development and coordination of national climate change research in Ireland. It works with other agencies and research bodies in development of key climate related observations including observations of greenhouse gases, aerosols, river flows and fresh water levels. The EPA provided support for Prof. Peter Thorne, Maynooth University, who acted as a coordinating lead author on the chapter on observations in the Working Group I (WGI) report of the 6th Assessment Cycle. The EPA has also supported the research at Mace Head cited in the report, and the work of Dr Jurgita Ovadnevaite, who was an author on the chapter on air pollution in the WG1 report. The EPA has supported work on the 6th Climate Modelling Inter-comparison Project (CMIP-6) used throughout the IPCC report through the work of Dr. Paul Nolan in ICHEC. The EPA hosts the Climate Ireland information portal which provides interactive access to climate information for Ireland.
The Department of Health has confirmed a further 1,110 cases of Covid-19 in the Irish Republic. They also confirm that there are 89 patients in hospital, with 21 of these in ICUs. Same amounts to almost 7,700 cases of Covid-19 reported in the Republic within the past seven days, an increase of 88% on the previous 7 days.
One in five of Covid positive people being admitted into our hospitals are vaccinated.
A further 1,138 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Northern Ireland today, with, sadly, 1 further death of a patient previously having tested positive for the virus.
In total there are now 2,248 cases of the virus on the whole island of Ireland.
Meanwhile, here in the Irish Republic, the Irish Pharmacy Union are calling on the Health Service Executive to supply Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines to all pharmacists, to allow Covid-19 vaccinations to further continue without interruption, as supplies of the Janssen vaccine begins to slow down.
Persons aged between 18-24 are again reminded to register for the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, which opened since yesterday. [Tel:1800 700 700 or register online through the HSE Vaccine Portal].
EPA survey highlights need for everyone to do a simple radon test in their homes
Radon is a cancer-causing radioactive gas and every year in Ireland 300 lung cancer cases are linked to radon exposure.
EPA commissioned a survey of over 1000 people on their attitudes to radiation.
28 per cent of people surveyed were concerned about radiation.
While 82 per cent of people have heard of radon 66 per cent of them said they are unlikely to test their homes.
Testing your home and fixing a radon problem can reduce the risk to your health from this radioactive gas.
A survey exploring Irish attitudes towards radiation found that 28% of people are concerned about radiation. In Ireland, radon accounts for more than half of our radiation exposure. However, while awareness of radon gas is high, two out of three people said that they are unlikely to test their home, believing their homes to be unaffected by radon.
Commenting on the survey, Ms Stephanie Long, (EPA Senior Scientist) said, “Many people don’t know that radon is the largest contributor to radiation dose in Ireland. If there is a high radon level in your home, it is exposing you and your family to unnecessary radiation. While radon levels in certain parts of the country are higher than, others the gas can be found in homes of all types and ages throughout the country. Yet, despite the risks there continues to be a reluctance amongst householders to protect their health by testing their homes for radon.”
Reducing radon levels in homes and other buildings is simple and inexpensive and immediately reduces the risk of developing lung cancer. For moderate levels of radon, improving indoor ventilation may reduce the level by up to half. For higher levels, a fan assisted sump can be installed which can reduce radon levels by over 90%. The sump can be installed in one day by a contractor with little disruption to the home.
Clinical psychologist Dr. Clare Kambamettu is a homeowner who found high levels of radon in her home, which she acted on and remediated. Dr. Kambamettu had a radon sump installed in her Galway home which addressed the high radon levels.
Dr. Kambamettu commented: “We were worried when our test showed high levels of radon in our home. We soon found out that the solution was surprisingly easy. Most of the work was done quickly from the outside of our home with very little disruption. And the best part was that once the work was done, the risk was gone too, as our radon levels were reduced so much.”
For more information on radon and to find a list of registered radon testing and remediation services, visit www.radon.ie, or freefone 1 800 300 600.
The last weeks of June 2021 mark the end of a second unprecedented and challenging school year for primary school pupils.
In a special message (See Text below) for our nation’s primary school pupils, Irish President Michael D. Higgins commends them on “the cheerful and responsible way” in which they have responded to “the sacrifices asked of you throughout this challenging time.”
He acknowledges that it has been difficult for pupils who have lost out special occasions and events such as First Communions, Confirmations, Christmas concerts and sports events, but he also highlights that during these tough times our primary pupils have learnt many positive lessons, including “the importance of people pulling together, of taking care of their friends and of all the people with whom they share a community”.
Before wishing pupils a well-earned summer break, President Higgins concludes his message of resilience and praise for primary school pupils by stating, quite rightly, that “the adults who have benefitted so much from your selfless actions, will always remember, be grateful for and very proud of a generation of children who are so generous and so willing to change their behaviour for the benefit of others”.
Message from President M.D. Higgins For All Primary School Students.
Is mian liom gach beannacht a ghuí oraibh, a dhaltaí bunscoile, agus sibh ag teacht chun deireadh na bliana scoile, agus ag tabhairt aghaidh anois ar na laethanta saoire fhada atá romhaibh.
May I send my very best wishes to all our primary school children as you enter the final weeks of this school year.
It has I am aware been a difficult, and in some ways strange, year for all of you. At school, you have been asked to follow new rules and restrictions in order to keep your fellow pupils, teachers and their families safe. At home, too, you have had to find different ways to keep in touch with your friends and to pursue your hobbies and interests as you played your important part in preventing, as much as possible, the spread of Covid 19.
Following your Christmas break you were all asked to once again learn at home for some time, and for those of you who could, to work online with your teachers and your classmates, until it was safe for you to return to your schools.
You have also, of course, been unable to enjoy many of the events that are normally such an important part of the school year for many of you, including religious ceremonies such as First Holy Communion and Confirmation ceremonies, Christmas plays and concerts, sports days, tours and outings.
May I say, as President of Ireland, how very impressed I have been at the cheerful and responsible way in which you have responded to the sacrifices asked of you throughout this challenging time. You have constantly placed the health and safety of others above your own wishes and needs, and that is something of which you, along with your teachers and parents, can be very proud indeed.
Although this has been a difficult year it has also, I hope, been a year during which you learnt much about the importance of people pulling together, of taking care of their friends and of all the people with whom they share a community. That is a greatly important lesson, and one that I hope you will carry with you for the rest of your lives.
As the school year draws to its close, I assure you it is one that we, the adults who have benefitted so much from your selfless actions, will always remember, grateful for and very proud of a generation of children who are so generous and so willing to change their behaviour for the benefit of others.
For some of you, this is the end of your primary school journey and you are no doubt looking forward to commencing secondary school in September. I wish you every happiness and success as you start that new chapter in your lives. For those of you who will be returning to your primary schools in the autumn, I greatly hope it will be a year during which you will be able to resume all of the activities which make your school lives so pleasurable.
To all of you I send my deepest gratitude and my best wishes for a very happy and enjoyable summer holiday. Bain gach sult as an samhradh. Make the most of these long summer days and enjoy yourselves. as you spend time with your families and friends.
The little old Thurles widow woman approaches her parish Rector and shyly confesses to him, “Reverend Jones, I have a problem. As you known I live alone and I recently purchased two Rainbow lorikeet, talkingparrots; both female, to keep me company, but whenever I am hostess to visitors in my home, they regularly keep repeating an embarrasssing phrase. They each keep saying – Hi, I’m hot; do you want to fool around?”
“That is terrible!” says Rev. Jones. “But stop worrying, I have a solution to your problem. Bring your two female parrots over to my house tomorrow. I will put them with my two male African Grey, talking parrots. I’ve taught them to pray and read passages from holy scripture. My parrots will then teach your parrots to stop repeating suggestive filth, and they also will learn to pray and worship their great creator.”
Next day, the widow woman brings her two female Australian parrots to the local rectory.
There, in a large silver metal cage, sits the Rector’s two male African Grey parrots. One parrot is slowly turning the pages of a large King James edition of the Bible, while the other one sits with his eyes closed; reciting prayers taken from the Book of Common Prayer.
On the suggestion of the Rector, the widow puts both her female Rainbow lorikeet parrots in with the talking male parrots. The female parrots look at each other before, in unison, stating, “Hi, I’m hot. Do you want to fool around?”
One male parrot looks over at the other male parrot and screams, “Put that Bible away stupid, can’t you see our prayers have just been answered!”
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