Stark warning in major UN climate change report
A new UN report will set out a stark message on the state of the climate crisis, raising pressure on Governments here and abroad to act.
The report from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), to be published today, is the first part of a review of scientific knowledge about how the world is warming due to human activity.
It is the first such global assessment since 2013, when scientists found that global warming was “unequivocal” and human influence on the climate was clear, with the majority of warming since the 1950s extremely likely to be down to human activity.
The high-level report authored by 234 experts will suggest that some level of climate change is now irreversible, and that extreme weather events are linked to climate change.
It also comes with stark warnings about the effect climate change will have on Ireland.
12-15-year-olds vaccine registration
Dr Lucy Jessop, Director of the National Immunisation Office has said that the first vaccinations for the 12 to 15 years age group could go ahead this weekend.
Registration for this age cohort will open on Thursday, she told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland. Consent from one parent or a guardian will be required and she urged them to read the details of the vaccination on the HSE’s website.
“It’s important that a parent make the right choice for their family.”
Dr Jessop, who is also a Director of Public Health and is responsible for the coordination of all national immunisation programmes, said that the vaccine will be available through vaccination centres, GPs and pharmacies.
Parents and guardians should read up on all the information, she urged.
Irish GDP growth forecast for 2021 up to 10%
Davy is now forecasting Irish GDP growth of 10 per cent in 2021 (vs 4.8 per cent previously) and 5.6 per cent in 2022.
The main reason is buoyant exports and multinational sector. However, the indigenous economy suffered a shallower contraction than feared in 2020 and Q1 2021.
An “exceptionally sharp rebound” has begun since May when Covid-19 restrictions started to be relaxed, evident in credit/debit card spending and falling jobless claims.
Ireland’s vaccination programme has now surpassed the UK with remaining restrictions set to be relaxed in the coming months.
“Hence Davy now expects Ireland’s indigenous sector to grow by 5.2 per cent in 2021 (vs 2.7 per cent previously), with output returning to pre-pandemic levels by early 2022. This is a faster recovery than we previously expected.”
Consumer spending saw a very sharp fall, down 6 per cent in Q1 and 15 per cent vs pre-pandemic levels. However, Davy expects a fast recovery during the summer, spending increasing close to pre-pandemic levels by end-2021.
Team Ireland homecoming
Team Ireland's Olympic athletes are due to return home from Tokyo tomorrow.
However, Dublin City Council has said there will be no formal civic reception for gold medal-winning boxer Kellie Harrington due to Covid-19.
Harrington, who is from Dublin’s north inner city, will come back to Ireland with a gold medal following her Olympic final win against Brazil's Beatriz Ferreira.
She is the second Irish woman to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing and the ninth person to win a gold for Ireland since 1924.
In a statement to The Irish Times, Dublin City Council said it was “currently reviewing all contingencies in consultation with other relevant parties to ensure that Kellie, her family and the local community can be supported to celebrate her achievement in a Covid-safe manner”.
Mixed week ahead with showers and rain expected
Met Éireann are forecasting a mixed week ahead with showers and rain expected throughout.
Today will be mostly cloudy or misty this morning with showery outbreaks of rain and drizzle.
It should brighten up this afternoon with sunny intervals and showers. The showers will be heavy at times, especially in the midlands and east, with some localised thundery downpours bringing a risk of spot flooding.
Highest temperatures of 17 to 19 degrees in light to moderate westerly breezes.
Kellie Harrington's partner 'never doubted' she would win gold
The partner of Irish Olympic hero Kellie Harrington has said she “never doubted” that she would bring home the gold.
Harrington grabbed victory over Brazil’s Beatriz Ferreira by a unanimous points decision to become only the second Irish female boxer to win an Olympic medal after Katie Taylor’s gold in London 2012.
Mandy Loughlin, her partner of 13 years, said she was always confident she would win, saying she “brings 110% to whatever she does”.
“I never doubted her for a minute. Never,” she said.
