b'The impacts of climate change are felt more acutely atDecrease in average wind speed and an increase the local level. County Kildare has experienced severein extreme wind speeds. The number of very flooding from rivers bursting their banks that causedintense storms is projected to increase over thedamage to property, vehicles and transport North Atlantic region.infrastructure most recently, and particularly in 2002 and in 2009.Sea levels will continue to rise for all coastal areas.The south of Ireland will likely first feel the High wind storms such as Storm Darwin in 2014impacts of these rises. Sea surface temperaturescaused damage to buildings and forestry and led toare projected to continue to warm for the coming issues around safe drinking water. Heavy snowfalldecade. in March 2018 during Storm Emma caused major disruption to transport networks, local businesses andThis adaptation strategy is set against the background schools, particularly in the north of the county. Hot andof increasing risks associated with Climate Change dry summers have impacted on food and water and seeks to reduce and manage these risks at local availability for livestock, adversely affecting thelevel through a combination of mitigation andagriculture and equine industries in the county. adaptation responses. Nationally, climate projections for the next centuryAll local authorities including Kildare County Council indicate that the climate trends observed over the lastprovide a wide range of services, many of which will century will continue and intensify over the coming increasingly be affected by the impacts of Climate decades: Change. The local authority will continue to play a critical role in responding to the impacts of extreme Increase in average temperatures across allweather events and other impacts that are likely to seasons. Heat waves are expected to occur more emerge over the coming decades.5frequently and increase in duration.Significant reductions are expected in average 5 Including: Spatial Planning, development consent, asset levels of spring and summer rainfall with amanagement and natural resource protection.substantial increase in the frequency of heavy precipitation events in the winter.9'