Ms Ruth Cunningham:

I am pleased to join my fellow Comhairle na nÓg representatives and Foróige members in engaging with the committee. I represent Roscommon Comhairle na nÓg. I am honoured to be here today to talk about my perspective on climate challenges nationally. I will discuss energy consumption and conservation.

Sunken towns, mass extinction, extreme weather events and loss of habitat all seem like distant issues, but that is not the case. Climate change is a real problem and it is happening right now. A total of 78% of Irish youth believe climate change is the number one worry for the majority of young people, surpassing other important issues such as mental health and drugs and alcohol abuse. It no longer only affects Third World countries; it is a global issue. According to National Geographic, sea levels have risen by 23 cm since 1880. Furthermore, according to the World Wildlife Fund, global temperatures have increased by 1.1°C since 1850. If we do not act now, temperatures will rise by at least 1.5°C by 2050.

We must consider what that will mean for us. Sea levels will rise by 1.5 ft, leaving us with sunken coastal towns. In the west of Ireland, this would mean the disappearance of coastal hotspots such as Salthill, Rosses Point and Clifden. A total of 70% of all coral reefs will be extinct. Some 1 billion people will be affected by regular heatwaves. Precipitation will increase by 100%, severely impacting low-lying areas in counties such as Wexford. Plants and animals will be at risk of losing 30% of their habitats. These issues may not faze members of the committee right now. The majority of people in this room aged over 50 will not live to face the consequences. However, for those of us who will be forced to confront this possible future, we must act now.

Ireland has a long history of peat consumption, with many people across the country heating their homes with turf and consuming energy via peat-powered power stations. I come from a rural area in western Ireland that is still heavily dependent on peat consumption. A 2013 study of Irish peatland carbon emissions published in Irish Geographystated that industrially drained and stripped peatlands emit 2.1 tonnes of carbon per year, which is the equivalent of driving a car 30,000 km. That is before the harvested peat is even burned. Most peat consumers are aware this is unsustainable but they have no other options. We need support to change.

Our peat consumption has had negative effects on the environment. Peat-powered power stations emit nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide. When these gases mix with rainwater, they form weak acid rain. This is harmful to human health, animals and the environment. The nearest peat-powered power station to my home is 10 minutes up the road. In 2019, the temperature of cooling water discharged from the station into the River Shannon was too hot, causing concern over the well-being of fish in a local fishery and other wildlife species on the river. The potential for damage these stations hold has become a real and present danger to our environment. Fortunately, most peat-powered power stations have been shut down.

According to the energy use report for 2020 by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, approximately 86% of the energy produced in Ireland that year was non-renewable. Renewables were on the rise in recent years but have since faced a dip of 0.4%. Although this is a step in the wrong direction, it was a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Even though this is a valid explanation, it highlights the convenience of non-renewable energy over renewable energy at this time. We need to consider ways in which we can make renewable energy convenient, cost-effective and readily available for consumers.

Another global event that has highlighted our need for self-sufficiency is the conflict in Ukraine. Due to the inflation crisis that has arisen partially as a result of this conflict and the sanctions on Russian gas and oil, the price of energy has skyrocketed. According to KBC Bank, we are seeing a record 18.7% monthly increase in energy costs, which means they are 43.8% higher now than they were in March 2021. This has affected not only energy prices but also housing, groceries and transport. People have to choose between heating their homes and feeding their children. A country like ours, with such good resources, should be self-sufficient.

We should be inspired by other countries that have paved the way for renewables. For example, New Zealand has the third highest rate of renewable energy consumption, with a staggering 40% of the country's energy coming from renewable sources. Like us, New Zealand is an island nation that relies heavily on hydroelectric and geothermal power. Currently, Ireland's hydroelectric power makes up only 2.5% of our energy production. We have the capacity to install more hydroelectric power stations as most of our counties have rivers running through them. We should prioritise and invest in renewable alternatives to ensure Ireland's climate goals are met. We can emulate New Zealand's renewable energy consumption by availing of the natural resources our island offers.

We must band together to fight climate change now. Non-renewables are not the answer to the climate crisis. If we work together, we will slow down climate change.