‘We have entered a new reality’: Ireland is alarmingly unprepared for a heatwave future

Ireland is facing a critical lack of preparedness for increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves, with no clear strategy in place to manage the potential health and energy challenges. The country's push towards energy-efficient homes has inadvertently left many without adequate cooling spaces during extreme temperatures. This situation underscores the urgent need for comprehensive planning and infrastructure investment to safeguard public health and energy resilience in the face of a warming climate. As global temperatures rise, Ireland's unpreparedness could have serious implications for its population and economy.