Westmeath and Roscommon councils expect more flooding and 1.5°C temperature rise

Draft climate action plans published by Westmeath and Roscommon county councils have outlined an expected increase in local flooding, and a rise in average temperatures of up to 1.5 degrees Celsius, over the coming decades.

The draft plans of both local authorities are currently open for public consultation, and Roscommon County Council held a public information session on its plan at Monksland Community Centre in Athlone on Thursday evening last.

The draft document is "one of the most important plans of Roscommon County Council" and "will influence how the council conducts all of its business in the future," according to Aoife Moore, climate action coordinator with the local authority.

In the plans for both counties a 'Decarbonisation Zone' is designated. This is an area where climate action projects "can be developed, implemented, and their effects measured," in order to act as a testing ground for a possible roll out in other areas.

Mullingar has been designated as the 'Decarbonisation Zone' for Westmeath, while Roscommon town was the area chosen in county Roscommon.

Both Westmeath and Roscommon county councils developed their plans in response to Government legislation which mandated that all local authorities must enact five-year climate action plans with mitigation and adaptation measures included.

The plans for both county councils included 'climate change risk assessment' reports that were prepared on their behalf by consultants KPMG.

According to these assessments, average temperatures in Westmeath and Roscommon could rise by 1.5 degrees Celsius, in a worst case scenario, by 2050.

Summer rainfall is expected to decrease by up to 11 or 12% in the coming decades, according to the assessments, but the frequency of "heavy rainfall days" is expected to increase by up to 62% in some areas of Westmeath and by up to 56% in Roscommon.

"This will likely result in an increased frequency of associated river and pluvial flooding," the climate change risk assessments state.

The Roscommon plan mentions that the "extent of affected land from repeated ground water flooding in Lough Funshinagh," in the south of the county, had "doubled in recent years, increasing from 600 to 1,200 acres".

Average temperatures in the two counties are reported to have increased by 0.3 degrees Celsius between 1971 and 2000. Last year the highest temperature recorded in Westmeath was 30.4 degrees in Mullingar, on July 18, while in Roscommon the mercury hit 31.4 degrees at the Mount Dillon weather station on the same day.

In a joint introduction to the draft Westmeath climate action plan, the council's chief executive Pat Gallagher, and Cathaoirleach Cllr Liam McDaniel, describe climate action as "the most pressing long-term global challenge of our time and a significant priority for Westmeath County Council."

The draft Westmeath Climate Action Plan is available to view on the council's website and may also be inspected during public opening hours at Athlone Library. Submissions or observations in relation to it can be made in writing up to 4pm on Monday, December 18.

Roscommon County Council, meanwhile, described its draft plan as "a roadmap for the transition to a climate resilient, biodiversity rich, environmentally sustainable and climate neutral economy" in the county.

Roscommon's climate action coordinator, Ms Moore, encouraged members of the public and community groups to participate in the public consultation process.

"We anticipate the finalisation of the Climate Action Plan by next March, which will provide a strong and robust framework to help Roscommon County Council deliver on its national climate obligations," she concluded.

The Roscommon plan is also available on the county council's website and submissions on it can be made until December 13.