Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses very much for their presentations, which were very enlightening in giving us a picture of where we stand. I have two questions.

I ask my questions in the light of the latest report today from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC, which effectively says we are standing on the brink of a very serious environmental disaster with a rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable future for all. The report also underlines the issue of how delay means higher costs. Where do the sustainable development goals fit into that sense of urgency to push through the political constraints all of us feel, which restrain action that is needed at the moment?

What is encouraging about the report is that there are still substantial numbers of low-cost options. A lot can be done, and we have significant opportunity with many of the highest impact ones. Where do the witnesses see the two approaches linking in: the balanced scorecard approach versus the much more focus-driven urgency? I find it difficult to mobilise people around 17 points. It is hard enough with one or two. Is there a better prism to see the crisis through than the SDGs?

I would like to get the perspective of the witnesses on the other major political blocs globally, apart from the European Union. To be fair to the European Union, it seems to be very much established on the political agenda with the European Green Deal, the reporting requirement directive for companies, and so on. There is very much a European drive to embed deep-rooted change but where do the witnesses see the other major blocs that are going to determine global progress? Where do they stand in these balanced scorecards? I would welcome the insight of the witnesses on that.