Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 12 September 2018

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action

Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Climate Change Advisory Council

10:00 am

Photo of Marcella Corcoran KennedyMarcella Corcoran Kennedy (Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have two more questions. Many different views on these issues are expressed when conversations take place around the dinner table. We are a small island nation. If the waters around us rise, our cities will be flooded. Pretty soon after that, the water will come flowing up the River Shannon and out into the tributaries and we will all be underwater. As Ireland has a population of just 6 million, we can only make certain changes. As an island nation, we will be dreadfully affected by rising sea levels. As a small nation, how should we communicate with bigger emitters, such as Russia and the USA, that are resisting efforts to accept that climate change is happening? Should we use our massive diaspora to speak for us? When I was talking to somebody about this issue the other day, that person said that Ireland is small and asked who would listen to us. We have a massive diaspora. Should we consider reaching out to the members of our diaspora to ask them to make the point that Ireland is a small country that will be significantly affected by this matter? Some other island nations are already underwater. This could happen to Ireland. It might not happen in my generation, but it could certainly happen in the future, perhaps in my daughter's generation or my granddaughter's generation. Is this something that the witnesses have looked at? How can Ireland as a small nation go out there and make its point?

My other question relates to the work being done in the area of sustainability by local projects like Cloughjordan ecovillage in north Tipperary. The district heating system in Cloughjordan is working very well. It is a fantastic model for sustainability. Local communities need to rely on and support one another to deal with the challenges we are facing.

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