Some Simple Facts

Climate change is making our weather more extreme and sometimes dangerous. On Feb 16^th 2026, RTE reported that, it has rained every day so far in 2026 at the Valentia Observatory in Co Kerry, a continuous run of 46 days which included serval Met Éireann weather warnings.

In 2017, Hurricane Ophelia was one of the strongest storms ever to hit Ireland.

• 3 people lost their lives
• Over 360,000 homes lost electricity
• Schools and businesses closed
• Winds reached over 150 km/h

It was unusual because really strong hurricanes almost never reach Ireland— but warmer Atlantic waters helped power it.

In 2021 and 2022 hot, dry weather led to large wildfires in places including Sleeve Donard and Killarney National Park.

In July 2022, Ireland recorded temperatures above 33°C — extremely hot for our country. Heatwaves are becoming more common, lasting longer, with hotter, drier spells leading to an expectation of wildfires.  

What is means in simple words:

The Earth is getting hotter because of pollution from cars, planes, factories, and cutting down forests. This pollution traps heat around our planet, like a thick blanket.

Because of this:

Bigger Rain & Floods: Warm air holds more water. That means when it rains, it can pour much harder than before. Some places (like parts of Ireland) could see over 20% more winter rain. More rain equals more flooding.

Stronger Storms: Storms are getting more powerful, especially over the North Atlantic. Stronger winds and heavier rain can damage homes and knock out power.

Hotter Days: The last 10 years have been the hottest ever recorded. 2024 and 2025 were the hottest years worldwide. Summers are getting even hotter, and heatwaves are happening more often. This can make people sick, harm animals, and damage crops.

Droughts in Some Places: While some areas flood, others get less rain and much hotter summers. This can lead to droughts, water shortages, and wildfires.

Rising Sea Levels: Ice in cold places is melting, and warmer water expands. This makes sea levels rise. That means more coastal flooding and beaches slowly disappearing.

Why This Matters to YOU

This isn’t just about the future — it’s happening now. It affects:

• The air you breathe
• The food you eat
• The places you live and play
• The life you live is disrupted including work, school, sport, and social events
• The livelihoods of individuals and families are threatened

What can we do? You are not “too young or too old” to make a difference. Here are powerful things you can do:

• Walk, cycle, or carpool when possible
• Turn off lights and unplug chargers
• Reduce, reuse, recycle
• Eat more plant-based meals
• Talk about climate change at school and home
• Join or start a climate club
• Take part in tree-planting or clean-up events

Small actions, create big change when millions of people do them. We are the generation that can help protect the planet so make a difference now!

About Recycle IT

Recycle IT is a not-for-profit social enterprise providing collection and drop-off services for all types of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Yearly Recycle IT offered drop-off and collection services to thousands of homes and organisations across Dublin and surrounding areas collecting a range of WEEE which includes thousands of computers, televisions, toasters, cables, lawnmowers, monitors, microwaves and kettles.

Recycle IT services are provided in partnership with WEEE Ireland. Recycle IT is supported by South Dublin County Council and authorized by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the local authorities across Leinster.

Visit our website for further details.