However, there is a significant time lag between mitigation activities and their contribution to climate change reduction. Even if emissions were to be dramatically reduced today, current greenhouse gases in the atmosphere would continue to result in global warming and drive climate change for many decades. In general, the more mitigation there is, the less will be the impacts to which society will have to adjust, and the less the risks for society to prepare. Conversely, the greater the preparatory adaptation, the less may be the impacts associated with any given degree of climate change.
In general, the more mitigation there is, the less will be the impacts to which society will have to adjust, and the less the risks for society to prepare. Conversely, the greater the preparatory adaptation, the less may be the impacts associated with any given degree of climate change.
Fig. 1.2 Strategies to address climate change.
The impacts of climate change are felt more prominently at a local level. County Cork has experienced severe weather events over recent years including increases in storm events, higher incidences of flooding and periods of prolonged drought. All these events impacted on the lives and livelihoods of County Cork's residents and businesses. A synopsis of these weather events is outlined in Chapter 3.
“A Summary of the State of Knowledge on Climate Change Impacts for Ireland [10] states that there is “evidence that Ireland is being impacted by global climate change and that projects of future climate change across all scenarios suggest that changes will continue, but uncertainties on details of these for countries such as Ireland remain large”. The impacts of climate change are felt more prominently at a local level. County Cork has experienced severe weather events over recent years including increases in storm events, higher incidences of flooding and periods of prolonged drought. All these events impacted on the lives and livelihoods of County Cork's residents and businesses. A synopsis of these weather events is outlined in Chapter 3.