A new centre has been set up at Trinity College Dublin to study and research environmental subjects such as global warming and climate change, writes Emmet Oliver. Several departments and faculties will be involved in the centre, including those teaching science, engineering, economics, social science, politics and law.
Prof David Jeffrey, of the Botany Department, said that global change was taking place and that this needed to be reflected in national and local environmental policy.
"Climatic change in Ireland will mean average temperatures and rainfalls are going to change over the next 20 to 50 years, and there will be an increase in the frequency and power of storms", Prof Jeffrey said.