Sinn Féin says new research on Gulf Stream weakening demands urgent government action on climate, fisheries and coastal protection.
Alarming Gulf Stream data must be a wake-up call for government on climate, fisheries and coastal protection – Conor McGuinness TD
Sinn Féin TD and Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Conor McGuinness, has said newly published scientific research pointing to a significantly increased risk of collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), commonly referred to as the Gulf Stream, is “deeply alarming” and demands urgent action from Government.
The Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Committee will meet tomorrow, Tuesday April 21st, between 11am to 1.30pm to discuss the impact of this change on coastal communities with researchers at Met Éireann, the Marine Institute, and the Atlantic Technical University.
He said the implications for Ireland’s fishing industry and coastal communities are particularly stark, and added that the research highlights a failure of urgency at political level.
Teachta McGuinness said:
“This latest research confirms what many scientists have feared. The system which underpins Ireland’s temperate climate is far more fragile than previously believed.
“The findings suggest a potential slowdown of between 42% and 58% by the end of the century, bringing the AMOC dangerously close to a tipping point. This is a direct threat to Ireland’s climate stability, our coastal communities, and our marine economy.
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“The Gulf Stream plays a critical role in keeping Ireland’s climate mild and habitable. A collapse or severe weakening would have devastating consequences, from extreme winters and summer droughts to rising sea levels along our coasts.
“For a country with such a deep economic and cultural connection to the sea, this represents a profound challenge.
“Our fishing communities are already on the frontline of climate change. Changes in ocean temperature and currents are disrupting fish stocks, migration patterns, and marine ecosystems.
“A major disruption to the AMOC would accelerate these changes dramatically, putting livelihoods at risk and undermining the long-term sustainability of our seafood sector.
“Scientists are now warning that the risk of collapse could exceed 50%, with some suggesting we may approach a tipping point within decades, not centuries. Yet the political response, both in Ireland and internationally, continues to lag far behind the scale of the threat.
“The Government should treat this as the serious national and global risk that it is. That means accelerating emissions reductions, investing in climate resilience for coastal and fishing communities, and ensuring Ireland is a strong voice for urgent international climate action.
“We also need a clear, evidence-based strategy for the protection of our marine environment, backed by proper funding and long-term planning.”
