Ms Jane-Ann McKenna:

I thank the committee for the invitation to continue our engagement and to give an update on the outcomes of COP27. When we met in October the committee heard harrowing stories from Somalia of the shocking hunger crisis and widespread famine conditions facing millions. As the committee is aware, Irish NGOs and their partners are on the ground responding with lifesaving humanitarian aid. However, these short-term interventions, although needed and lifesaving, will not solve the root causes of what we are seeing. Indeed, as the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Colm Brophy, spelled out in his contribution to this committee last week, the deadly combination of conflict, a failed global food system and five successive failed rainy seasons as a result of climate change, have created this catastrophic situation.

When we last spoke, we called for urgent action on a number of fronts, in particular of the need to establish a loss and damage fund. To that end, we warmly welcome the agreement at COP27 to establish such a fund aimed at providing vital financial support to the millions affected by climate change in the Global South. In particular we would like to thank Ireland for its leadership during COP27 and for the widespread Oireachtas support and engagement prior to and during COP27. This is a landmark moment that has been achieved after years of demands from communities who have been suffering the damaging impacts of the climate crisis and the injustice of being pushed into debt to pay for a crisis not of their making. The Prime Minister of Barbados, Ms Mia Mottley, urged global leaders at COP27 to realise this fact when she said:

We were the ones whose blood, sweat and tears financed the industrial revolution, are we now to face double jeopardy by having to pay the cost as a result of those greenhouse gases from the industrial revolution? That is fundamentally unfair.

In practical terms, the next step is that a transitional committee will be put in place to establish the fund and the most vulnerable countries need to have their voices and concerns heard in the process. We urge all countries, including Ireland, to ensure transparency, accountability and equity are the core principles of this fund and that funding reaches those countries that need it the most. In the meantime, there is a growing body of support for the call for not just increased climate finance from wealthy countries, but sweeping financial reform which is needed to implement adaption and mitigation measures across low income countries. We also want to see an increased focus on the quality, accountability and value of climate finance which should be in the form of grants rather than loans. Less than 2% of climate finance actually reaches small holder farmers, many of whom are women, on the ground globally. Here in Ireland, the Climate Action Plan is expected to be published before the end of the year. This will set us on a very necessary path to the target of a reduction in emissions of 51% by 2030. However, globally we need to see our biggest emitting countries implement reduction plans. We must remember that the need for adaptation and loss and damage funding will continue to grow unless we act now. Greater ambition is needed by every nation.

Today I am joined by Ms Siobhán Curran, head of policy and advocacy with Trócaire and Mr.Ross Fitzpatrick, policy and advocacy officer with Christian Aid who both attended COP27 and who will be able to answer any questions the committee may have. I am also honoured to be joined by Ms Jane Meriwas, executive director of the Northern Kenyan organisation, Samburu Women Trust, a woman-led organisation that champions the rights of women and girls in indigenous communities. Ms Meriwas has been invited to Dublin this week by Oxfam Ireland. In tackling the climate crisis, Ms Meriwas works to ensure that indigenous women, as custodians of the land with rich knowledge of protecting and preserving our environment, are heard in all decision making spaces. I am also delighted to be joined virtually by 15-year-old Ms Shania Ramadhani who participates in World Vision's SAUTI youth project. Ms Ramadhani attended COP27 and participated in the COP27 presidency's youth and future generations day events. I would especially like to thank Ms Ramadhani for taking a break from her summer holidays to be with us here today. Her commitment to educating us on the realities of climate change is unwavering.

Before I hand over to Ms Ramadhani and then to Ms McKenna we are asking that the committee and all Oireachtas members support our calls to action. These are to continue to be a champion for the loss and damage finance facility and to commit initial loss and damage finance, that is new and additional finance, as a sign of leadership on the issue; to champion and promote the inclusion of those furthest behind as the loss and damage fund is established and to ensure the core principles of the fund are that of transparency, accountability and equity; to play our part to move the world on track to 1.5°C both with ambitious climate action at home, but also to support low income countries on green development pathways; to include children, young people and women in all aspects of decision making as we respond to the climate crises and finally, to continue to grow Ireland’s overseas development budget, ODA in line with our commitment to spending 0.7% of gross national income, GNI, on ODA by 2030.