500 Meters of Irish Coastline GONE? New Doc Reveals Shocking Climate Threat

A new RTE documentary, “Rising Tides: Ireland’s Future In A Warmer World,” is raising alarm bells about the potential climate change impacts on the Irish coastline. The program warns that rising sea levels in Ireland due to melting glaciers could claim a staggering 500 metres of Irish land within a few decades.

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The three-part documentary, which debuted on Wednesday, chronicles writer Philip Boucher-Hayes’s trip to the Arctic Circle and Greenland. There, he meets with climate scientists who paint a grim picture of the accelerating rate of glacial melt. 

Impacts of Climate Change On The Irish Coastline

One particularly worrying phenomenon is “zombie ice” – ice sheets still attached to thicker glaciers but doomed because snowfall no longer replenishes them. According to glaciologist Jason Box, the rate at which Greenland’s glaciers are melting is six times faster than it was twenty years ago—double the rate that was previously estimated.

This rapid melt could lead to a catastrophic rising of sea levels in Ireland, potentially reaching seven metres within a short timeframe. Such an increase would wreak havoc on the planet’s weather systems, creating a climate crisis.

The documentary highlights the specific coastal vulnerability of Ireland. Our reliance on the North Atlantic, whose circulation is at its weakest point in 1,000 years, puts us at high risk. Oceanographer Matthew.

England warns that a five-metre increase in sea levels could see coastal waters surge 500 metres inland, swallowing entire communities. England stresses the urgency of preparing for a “new normal” – a world fundamentally altered by climate change. He emphasises the need to adapt our infrastructure, water sources, and food production in anticipation of these dramatic shifts. 

With a heavy heart, England acknowledges the bleak future generations may face if we don’t act swiftly.

“Rising Tides: Ireland’s Future In A Warmer World” is a stark reminder of the consequences of inaction on climate change and rising sea levels in Ireland. It airs on RTE One on Wednesday at 9.35 pm, a must-watch for anyone concerned about the future of our island nation.