Mr. Leo Galvin:

Gabhaim buíochas libh, a chairde go léir, leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach agus le baill an Chomhchoiste um Chomhshaol agus Ghníomhú ar son na hAeráide as teacht anseo inniu. My name is Leo Galvin and it is an honour to speak before the committee once more. I am here representing Youth Work Ireland and during my statement, I hope to leave members with a few points for their consideration.

I have previously witnessed some amazing contributions at this committee and heard some truly attainable and practical solutions for national issues in the areas of the circular economy and climate justice. Today, I have been asked to represent the views of young people on issues such as the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP27, energy and climate, as have my colleagues beside me.

Young people will support each other and those who value them. Throughout the world, we have seen youth climate strikes for the common good. Young people have come out in a majority to support an end to global warming. By supporting each other across continents and cultural divides, young people and adults alike, as a whole, support an end to climate change.

It is almost certain that the people of Ireland were overjoyed to see the enthusiastic efforts of almost the entire Irish Executive during COP26 in Glasgow. Supporting the Glasgow outcome was a wonderful measure to follow up on promises, along with the phasing down of coal and the promises regarding the Santiago Network.

Over the course of the last year, however, other priorities have taken hold of the world, such as the war in Ukraine, the cost-of-living crisis, the energy crisis. Many other incredibly important and costly priorities are taking a toll on people and have a cost in time. As young people, we stand in solidarity with people in Ukraine, Iran and any other countries where young people face prosecution for expressing their rights, including the right to freely express themselves. Even though there are crises in the world, climate should remain a central topic. Young people have been campaigning and fighting for stricter measures to control climate change and it is now rising on the political agenda.

I am certain young people would not like to see something so important fall from mainstream politics. That is why I applaud this committee for its continued engagement with young people and invigorating efforts regarding climate action and the environment.

COP27 will invariably see many of these topics discussed, with the main focus seemingly to be put towards Africa and the finance question, namely, the pledge to fund developing nations and how they would be funded, especially since COP26, where doubling the financial contributions to these developing nations was agreed under the Glasgow pact. I understand that as a country we are one that focuses on helping others and I fully believe that the Government is a reflection of the people it was elected by. It can be seen foremost in the general population of Ireland that was estimated to have given €1.2 billion to charity in 2018. However, the focus of Ireland during this conference should be placed inward. Ireland was fined €450 million for missing the 2020 carbon emission reduction deadlines and current projections state we may not meet our 2030 emission targets. Therefore, while the finance question is being discussed and the elements of mandated transparency are conducted at COP27, Ireland should also take a look at home and think of what we need to do as young people, as adults and as people so that we may reach and uphold our climate action plan.

The three main aims of the Paris Agreement are well known. They are to keep the global temperature from rising above the 2°C mark, to increase adaptability so that it does not affect food supply and to focus finance toward more climate-friendly developments. It is likely that it has been mentioned before but allowing new homes in Ireland to still be built with fossil fuel-powered heaters is not right. There are many alternatives to using fossil fuel-powered heaters and it is a matter of letting the public know more about these options and making them more accessible. Alternatives for oil in oil heaters, heat pumps and improvements to the retrofitting grant could help with these things. Agriculture is one of the hardest questions to answer in Ireland. As a country we are reliant on our own domestic agriculture. We care for farmers and most of us can empathise with them. We most certainly do not want to jeopardise our food supply and therefore we must offset agriculture emissions in some way.

Behind every problem regarding the climate are people. To solve the issue of global warming and climate change, a compassionate and community-driven response needs to be made. Young activists are people who want to see a bright future for every person. The same can be said about any person who runs for elected office or works in the public sphere. We all look for action to stop climate change but the recognition needs to be there that there are people everywhere affected by these actions and we need to keep these repercussions to a minimum. The tough question is how. It is certainly a question the committee is considering.

What I ask to be considered for COP27 is in line with the vision and mission set out by the COP27 presidency, namely, for implementation plans to be considered, for pilot activities and practices to lead the way and for a just transition to take place in the move from high- to low-emission infrastructure. An idea initiated by people young, old and in between in the interest of the future and young people and promoted around the globe is a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty. It would be a call to phase out fossil fuels in legislation and to be legally bound to removing fossil fuels and providing a just transition to all people. Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine. Gabhaim buíochas le gach éinne.