John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses that are before the committee. I do not disagree with anything that has been said. One of the references used by a contributor was a quote from the Taoiseach that climate change is the defining challenge of our lifetime. We must face up to that. While the eyes of the world are on Glasgow, with up to 30,000 delegates taking part in the deliberations, it is disappointing that some of those who need to be there are not there. I refer to China and Russia. We all hope for a very successful outcome. As has been stated, it is our best and some would say probably one of our last, opportunities to keep to the 1.5°C target and to keep the target alive. The failure to take radical and ambitious actions coming out of this will have grave consequences.

Some of our contributors this afternoon have alluded to the unfortunate reality on the ground as a direct result of climate change. We see that with the intensification of fires, which are gripping the entire world at this point, the floods and the change of seasons, which was graphically touched on. We simply cannot rely on having a wet season any more. Unfortunately, the consequences of that is famine, which is now gripping the world and spreading at a frightening pace. This is the stark reality. We hear of some countries that simply will not exist in 20 years' time if we do not immediately address and live up to the radical and ambitious plans that are needed.

I wish to respond to a couple of points Mr. Sadlier made about young people. I concur with everything he said on the need for young people's voices to be heard. Young people have been to the fore of this movement in trying to force people like us to take action. When I say "us", I mean politicians in this country. I remember the movements and the protests that took place outside this institution. That was fired up by activists such as Greta Thunberg, who has inspired so many young people across the world. It was disappointing to hear some of the commentary from her at COP26. She said it was "blah, blah, blah" that was going in inside, and that it was people pretending to take the future seriously. While I do not disagree with that, it is unfortunate that young people are not in there participating and having their voices heard as well. There is a lot of concern about what is being said.

I listened to Mary Robinson as well, who is watching and listening with worry and hope, as to what may come out of COP26. We need to be ambitious. The world is eagerly waiting to see what happens over the course of the deliberations. Mr. Sadlier suggests having a youth-only hearing. I am not sure whether he was referring to this committee, but as a committee member I am really up for that. Prior to Covid, in the previous Dáil term, the Ceann Comhairle had a number of hearings within the Oireachtas that involved young people coming in and making their views known. I would be open to that, if that is what has been suggested by Mr. Sadlier.