Climate action leader says Donegal is ‘highly vulnerable to climate shocks’

Emeritus Professor John Sweeney from Maynooth University will give a free talk in Central Library, Letterkenny on Thursday, April 23 at 6.30pm

Published 19th Apr 2026, 14:03 BST Professor John Sweeney (inset) has warned that Donegal is particularly at risk to climate shocks associated with changing rainfall, sea level and biodiversity loss Emeritus Professor John Sweeney from Maynooth University will give a free talk in Central Library, Letterkenny on Thursday, April 23 at 6.30pm Sign up to our Donegal Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Donegal Live within your account.

A Professor of climate action has warned that Donegal is at risk of the impacts of climate change.

Emeritus Professor John Sweeney from Maynooth University will give a free talk in Central Library, Letterkenny on Thursday, April 23 at 6.30pm.

Professor Sweeney is a leader in climate action in Ireland; he has published over 100 scientific papers and written extensively on various aspects of climatology and climate change in Ireland. Professor Sweeney contributed to the reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Professor Sweeney says, “I am delighted to be partnering with Europe Direct Letterkenny for this event. The increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events are providing clear evidence that the climate and biodiversity emergency is intensifying, despite the issues being deprioritised at national and international levels.

“Ireland in general, and Donegal in particular, are highly vulnerable to climate shocks associated with changing rainfall, sea level and biodiversity loss. Recent advances in climate science provide further evidence of the need for urgency in reducing greenhouse gas emissions as critical tipping points are approached, or even exceeded.

“National policies are not being implemented convincingly; rather, short-term political choices in response to powerful pressure groups are resulting in exceedances of legally binding carbon budgets, and inaction threatens costly burdens over the next decade for Irish society”.

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Europe Direct Letterkenny is located at the Central Library. They provide Information and Access to publications and brochures from EU institutions; Information about the Erasmus+ and Discover EU travel opportunities for young people; Access to PCs to search for EU material; A freephone link to the Europe Direct Helpdesk; Events, talks, exhibitions, and competitions.

To book this free event, please email [email protected] or telephone Central Library on 074 91 24950.

Related topics: Letterkenny Donegal Climate change Maynooth Sign up to our Donegal Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Donegal Live within your account.