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

Professor John FitzGerald:

As we seek to communicate with the outside world, the EU is a big and hugely important voice.

The point raised on the diaspora is of interest. We do not have a large diaspora in Russia or Saudi Arabia to make a difference and I am unsure that our diaspora in the United States, many of whom I suspect voted for President Trump, would offer support. Australia should also be considered. It is an interesting idea in terms of how we communicate. Climate justice is what happens in Africa, where we have a significant development aid programme and may be able to bring technology to bear. While I was working in Vietnam two years ago, I developed a model on the environmental impact on the economy for the Vietnamese institute with which I was working and which held a conference on adaptation. Vietnam is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change and it had done some very impressive things which have yet to be done in Ireland. Interestingly, the President was there during my stay and attended the signing of a major contract by an Irish company to develop wind energy. There are ways in which we can impact on and make a difference in the wider world.

I ask the Deputy to remind me of her final point.

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