Despite an overwhelming scientific consensus regarding the human contribution to recent climate change, a significant sceptical community still exists. This talk will examine the basis for sceptical views and briefly examine the backgrounds of its adherents. The nature of global climate change will be discussed, together with techniques for downscaling global perspectives to an Irish scale. The impacts of climate change on various aspects of the Irish environment will be examined with a view to identifying where, when and by how much various sectors will be affected. Mitigation and adaptation strategies will be outlined in the context of national and international efforts to address what is likely to be the major problem facing humankind this coming century.