Ireland is warming up at twice the rate of the rest of the world on average, according to a new climate change report compiled by the Environmental Protection Agency. Tim O'Brien reports.

The report which analysed meteorological records going back more than 100 years concluded that Ireland warmed up by 0.42 degrees per decade between 1980 and 2004, about twice the levels of increase globally.

Entitled Key Meteorological Indicators of Climate Change in Ireland, the report also warned that the rate of warming in Ireland was still accelerating.

Date released: Aug 29 2007
· Ireland's mean annual temperature has increased by 0.7oC between 1890 and 2004.
· The average rate of increase is 0.06oC per decade. However, as Ireland experiences considerable climate variability, the trend is not linear.
· The highest ten yearly rate of increase has occurred since 1980, with a warming rate of 0.42oC per decade.
· Six of the 10 warmest years have occurred since 1990; however, 1945 was the warmest year on record.
· There has been a reduction in the number of frost days and a shortening of the frost season length.
· The annual precipitation has increased on the north and west coasts, with decreases or small increases in the south and east.
· The wetter conditions on the west and north coastal regions appear due to increases in rainfall intensity and persistence.
· There is an increase in precipitation events over 10mm on the west coast with decreases on the east coast; there is an increase in the amount of rain per rain day on the west coast.