So, we shot the messengers. The Greens have been dumped unceremoniously from government in Ireland. But it doesn’t change the message. Climate change is happening. How we respond is shaping the future, for our descendants and theirs, for centuries. The outlook is grim.

The evidence is everywhere – from the side of 12 misty mountains to the middle of seven sad forests and a dozen dead oceans, the hard rain’s already fallin’... Look at your news feed. Monstrous and deadly floods in Valentia, Spain. In Central Europe. In Central Asia, East Africa, South East Asia and the Philippines…

In New England last August, 37.67cm of rain fell in 24 hours. Unprecedented, but let nobody tell you it was an outlier. Heat records were broken this year in Southeast Asia, Africa, North America and Europe. We had the hottest summer on record in the Northern Hemisphere and the warmest winter in the Southern Hemisphere. July 21, 2024 was the hottest day ever recorded. There were myriad strange weather phenomena. An increase in atmospheric rivers. Melting glaciers. More moisture in the atmosphere, but less water to go ‘round.

The result? Famines, wars and migration.

The Gulf Stream that keeps us warmer than we should be and is a fundamental, and irreplaceable part of the global ocean circulation system, is failing rapidly. We’ll soon be the new Labrador. And yet, the clear evidence notwithstanding, climate change denial is rampant and there’s well-funded, pushback even against the idea that it’s real.

There are (at least) three strands of opposition: farmers, populists and science deniers, the latter group often supported in many ways by fossil fuel interests. They include the incoming President of the US. As a result, every green centimetre must be won the hard way. And that’s before we factor in the almost incalculable quantities of methane emitted in oil and gas production around the world.

Crisis fatigue is another challenge. There’s a bone-weariness out there, with the debate, the tone, the hectoring and moral superiority, understandable as these might be, given the urgency of the issue. Hence the electoral wipeout of the Greens.

Climate change has also been sucked into the culture wars. People are fed up. They have lives to live and bills to pay. Our Government’s tendency to pass key development measures over to executive agencies doesn’t help. Farmers feel they’ve a right to be annoyed – that they’ve been unfairly scapegoated. They have a point.

They’ve been targeted for cuts and exclusions, without any serious attempt being made to find technological or agricultural adaptations. Is there any hope or are we totally screwed? Both, perhaps. Look at the global fossil fuel emitters, think of Trump, and weep.

But let’s not write off the huge positive changes already made, nor the vast body of research-based new technologies aimed at mitigating emissions, generating energy and exploiting the possibilities of recycling.

Sadly, there’s precious little sign of these in Ireland.

Our policy, every fucking time, is to stick with the known and avoid anything new or risky, even if it might actually deliver the results more efficiently and effectively. Look at our offshore wind policy. Where are the floating wind turbines?

Where are the many emerging small and vertical turbine technologies that can be incorporated into the design of housing schemes, shopping centres and office complexes?

Well, the next Government must follow through without fear or favour.

Otherwise we’re stuck with the hard rain… and worse.

Read the full Whole Hog End of Year Special in the Hot Press Annual 2025 – out now: