Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Higgins for his comments and broad analysis of the challenges we face. At European level, Ireland obviously participates in the general consensus that one must take political action in this regard to meet the targets that have been set out. However, the Government also is conscious that Ireland has arrived at a position in which its agrisector is highly energy and carbon-efficient at present. As quotas go in 2015, it will lead to a situation in which one can increase substantially the output, particularly from the dairy sector, in an area in which it is known that Ireland is one of the few countries in the world to be leading in terms of the carbon footprint of the agrisector. While Ireland has been constrained for many years by virtue of the quota system being in existence, a freedom now is building up that is evident in the transactions of land and the preparation for the opportunity, especially for young farmers, in the agrisector where they see these opportunities piling up. This is tempered on the other side by the fact it is extremely difficult to get agreement on some of these areas, given our position as a member state of the European Union and the targets that were set for us for 2020. The purpose of the last European Council meeting was to set out targets for 2020 to 2030 and there will be no hope in high heaven of Ireland being able to reach those targets. It will be exceptionally difficult for us to achieve the targets set by 2020.

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Those targets were set on the basis of different kinds of evidence drawn from various sources of scientific analyses. The country was left in a position where it would not be able to meet such targets. The conclusion of the European Council was to support Ireland's particular profile, which is very similar to that of New Zealand in the context of agri-output, and to create a situation whereby afforestation and sequestration will allow for a recognition in respect of that element of the target which we must achieve between 2020 and 2030.

With regard to what action is going to be taken, at the European Council meeting there was a genuine response from the 28 member states to the effect that this matter should be able to be dealt with in a global context at the Paris conference next year. In that regard, intensive rounds of discussion and negotiation will begin in the new year. That to which the Deputy referred is already having an impact, particularly in terms of the analysis the OPW is being obliged to carry out in respect of flood defences in Cork, Galway and Dublin and at many other locations throughout the country. During our lifetime, weather patterns have changed significantly and we have witnessed the havoc which massive tides backed by storm-force winds can wreak on the economies of many of our towns and cities. One need only consider the impact of last year's floods in order to obtain evidence in this regard.

The fifth and final report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC, which concluded what the panel terms the "fifth assessment", brought together the key findings - involving thousands of inputs - issued by all the major working groups in the past 14 months. The IPCC's report is valuable in the context of facilitating sound decision making and the development of science-based policy at all levels and it provides the evidence base on which the work being carried out nationally and internationally rests. Its publication was timely, especially as we begin the process which will lead us towards the conference to be held in Paris at the end of 2015. As Deputy Higgins is aware, this the strongest and clearest report issued by the IPCC. It reiterates the warning that climate change is unequivocal, that the human influence is clear and that climate change is having widespread impacts on human and natural systems on all continents and across all oceans. Of course, some parts of the globe have been much more adversely affected than others.

The combined findings of the report are striking. They indicate a clear rise in average global temperatures by almost 1° Celsius since the 1880s and project a further increase in the coming decades. According to the report, the widespread loss of ice sheets in the Arctic Ocean will result in a rise in sea levels and changes in rainfall patterns. The latter would both be major concerns for Ireland, particularly as they are expected to result in much more intense rainfall and an increased risk of flooding. We have had some evidence of this in the past couple of years. The report is also clear on the consequences of inaction. Even with adaptation, the continued emission of greenhouse gases will cause further warming and long-lasting changes in all components of the climate system, increasing the likelihood of severe, pervasive and irreversible impacts for people and ecosystems. One such impact would be in the context of food production.

Crucially, however, the report highlights the actions we can take. It notes that substantial near-terms emission reductions can reduce risks in the 21st century and beyond, increase prospects for effective adaptation, reduce the costs and challenges of mitigation and contribute to climate-resilient pathways which can lead to sustainable development in different countries. It is in that context that work is under way to draw up a national low-carbon development plan - which will be underpinned by legislation - to ensure maximum certainty for the future. Through Irish Aid, this country is helping developing countries to adapt to climate change. At home, work is under way on the sectoral adaptation plans.

The IPCC report also notes that the problem of climate change is a global issue and that it, therefore, demands a collective response. At EU level and in participation with all countries involved with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCCC, Ireland is assisting in working towards a new global agreement in respect of this matter. I listened to quite a number of the speakers who addressed the UN climate change summit and while many delivered set-piece speeches, it was obvious that there is a very strong consensus to the effect that it will not be possible to deal with this problem unless all the big nations - including the major players in the Far East and the United States - are involved. Whereas Europe, as one of the older groupings of developed nations, has been leading the way in terms of climate change, there is no doubt that much more needs to be done and that a global response is required. There would be no point in putting some countries to the pin of their collar in the context of achieving targets to keep carbon emissions down while other nations are not participating. The effect of the statements made by the UN Secretary General and the major global players was to highlight the absolute necessity of full participation by all nations across the globe.

Ireland supports a number of initiatives, including that which relates to climate-smart agriculture. We have already indicated our agreement in respect of initiatives in a number of other areas and we will work towards taking action on these. Food security and food shortages are global issues. We are of the view that we can continue to produce food of a much higher integrity and standard - while ensuring that we keep the situation with regard to our carbon footprint in check - than that produced in countries which do not have in place regimes to control carbon emissions. We see this as part of the European Union response and we will play our part in respect of it. While the targets we were set for 2020 were both challenging and unachievable, we are not without ambition - particularly in light of the footprinting system we have developed for the agri-sector - with regard to we can achieve between 2020 and 2030.

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