The Climate Change Advisory Council has said that Ireland must be much better prepared for the next major weather event, with improved monitoring of climate events and their impacts required to radically improve preparedness for and our ability to respond to rapidly emerging extreme weather events.

The Council today launched the first publication of its 2025 Annual Review series which examines Ireland’s changing climate, projected future changes and the critical need to adapt. In it, the Council has said that a ‘National Climate Damage Register’ must be established to monitor and record the economic, social and environmental impacts of extreme weather events.

While the report focuses on the changing climate and extreme weather events in 2024, it also sets out the inadequate critical infrastructure exposed by Storm Darragh, and more recently Storm Éowyn amplifying the Council’s calls over many years to accelerate investment and action on climate adaptation.

The Council has said that the fingerprints of climate change are increasingly evident in the intensifying magnitude and frequency of certain extreme events, particularly heavy rainfall and heatwaves.

2024 was the warmest year globally, ever, and it was the fourth warmest year in Ireland with spring, here, being the sixth wettest on record. The Council’s report examines the disruption and impact for people, places and nature in Ireland with Storms Isha, Bert and Darragh bringing particularly strong winds, high rainfall and significant flood damage in Counties Donegal, Kerry, Cork, Limerick and Galway.

However, it was Storm Éowyn, in January of this year, that set an all-time record with sustained hurricane force winds of 142km per hour which saw 768,000 premises without power, over 200,000 without water, over one million telecom customers without broadband or phone coverage, and widespread agricultural damage.

To support the changes that are needed the Council has said that government must ensure that the funding and necessary supports are in place, underpinned by appropriate legislation, to sustain and improve the national climate observing system.

Commenting on the publication Peter Thorne, Chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council’s Adaptation Committee said, “The time to act is now. Government cannot procrastinate any longer. Proactive action can and must improve our preparedness for and response to rapidly emerging climate risks, to protect and support people, and future proof our communities. This must be underpinned by robust climate data and services.

“The Council has highlighted the inadequacy of Ireland’s approach to address our changing climate over many years, and we have consistently called for investment and legislation to address the vulnerability and lack of resilience within our critical infrastructure and services in coping with extreme climate events.

“If we do not put the structures and resources in place we will increasingly expose people and communities to the destructive effects of extreme weather events, magnifying future costs and risks to society,” he said.