Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan has said the public are living in "deeply fearful" and "uncertain" times because of the threat of climate change.
Following data showing May was the hottest on record in Ireland, and the hottest globally on record for the 12th consecutive month in a row, the environment minister said it is yet more evidence of the threat posed by climate change.
"We are in in deeply fearful, uncertain, uncharted waters that we have to prepare for," he said.
The Green Party leader was speaking at the publication of Ireland's second National Adaptation Framework.
The framework outlines the potential impacts of climate on Ireland, along with a "national strategy" to develop "adaption measures".
It will also require Government departments, infrastructure providers and local authorities to prepare a new cycle of Adaptation Plans for key sectors including agriculture, forestry, biodiversity, transport, flood risk management and tourism - which has been included for the first time.
Speaking at the publication of the framework, Mr Ryan said that the "challenges presented by climate change are unprecedented".
"Our response to climate change is not just about dealing with future impacts - we must also be prepared for the here and now and the more immediate challenges that present," he added.
The Minister stated that the State should immediately begin a process "green our cities" and plant trees on most streets in order to "mitigate flooding, improve our air and reduce heat impact".
Adapting to climate change will also "require each sector, each utility company, each local authority to plan seriously for the inevitability of more extreme weather events," Mr Ryan said.
"At a local authority level, this will include how we zone and develop into the future."
Garda Reserve
Meanwhile, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee announced a new recruitment campaign for Garda Reserves, which is now open for applications and will close on 4 July 2024.
The Garda Reserve is a volunteer service drawn from local communities.
Reserves work alongside full-time gardaí performing varied work, including working with the Garda Road Traffic Unit, ensuring public safety during State visits, policing public order incidents, assisting with crowd control at large-scale public events and supporting day-to-day community policing work.
The minister secured Government approval for an increase in the maximum tax-free stipend to be paid to Reserve members from €1,000 per annum for over 100 hours of volunteering in a year to €3,000 for over 200 hours of volunteering.
Minister McEntee also set a target to reach at least 1,000 Garda Reserves by 2026. There are currently 341 serving Garda Reserve members.
Separately, Ms McEntee also brought the airline fines review to Government.
This proposed increasing airline fines, if passengers travel into the State without a valid travel document.
The maximum fine is set to be raised from €3,000 to €5,000.
Carers grant
Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys updated the Cabinet on the Carer's Support Grant which will be paid this week.
Some 132,000 carers will receive the payment of €1,850 tomorrow, at a total cost of €275m.
The grant is available to all carers providing full-time care to an older person or a person with a disability, regardless of their means or social insurance contributions.
Almost 15,000 carers are providing care for two or more people and will receive a grant in respect of each person they are caring for.
