Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is no doubt that an unprecedented threat is facing our country and the planet, yet we have not grasped the seriousness of the issues facing us. These are not only issues that our generation must deal with; in years to come, future generations will have to deal with the devastation following years of abuse to which we have subjected the planet. It is incredible that some people still deny that global warming is occurring. One can see the difficulties involved in trying to convince such people that these issues must be tackled.

As global citizens, Ireland's people must step up to the plate and play an active and responsible role in tackling climate change and global warming by reducing emissions. We can no longer sit back and say that because Ireland is small, it is for others to deal with the problem. We have a responsible role to play in tackling our impact on the climate. This is no longer an issue that only impacts elsewhere, as was previously thought. It affects us here in Ireland perhaps differently from other countries, but we are seeing the effects too. We need only recall the disastrous flooding over the past year, particularly in Athlone. In my constituency of Mayo, flooding has had a lasting negative impact on many communities. People have lost farms and homes, while roads have been damaged. In addition, businesses have suffered irreparable damage. The true cost is as yet unknown. How can one put a cost on closing a premises for a month or two, with a consequent loss of business income? They may be able to repair flood damage to a building, replenish stock and reopen their doors, but what about the lost business they may never get back? These are issues that we will have to face again because they will recur, but how do we tackle them and prevent the situation becoming worse?

Scientists have estimated that by 2050 we will need to reduce worldwide emissions to at least half the 1990 levels in order to avoid further harmful impacts from climate change. It is an urgent challenge therefore because we are not that far off 2050 and it requires equally urgent action. Around the world, many of the most vulnerable communities are already struggling to cope with the impact of climate change. I refer to some developing countries where water has become a scarce resource.

The impact climate change and global warming are having on developing countries is quite staggering. Changes in rainfall and drought patterns are having a devastating effect on small farmers in such countries. Climate change presents a major threat to access to water for many people. By 2025, almost two thirds of the world's population - that is, 5.4 billion people - are likely to experience some kind of water scarcity and for 1 billion of them the shortage will be severe.

In recent years, we have seen a dramatic increase in extreme weather events across the world with the highest concentration in our poorest regions. In fact, almost three times the number of disasters were recorded in the past decade compared to the 1970s. Since 2000, the growth rate in the number of people affected by climate-related disasters has doubled. The costs of dealing with climate change effects are rising sharply, impacting more and more on the economies of countries in both developed and developing countries. The true cost of recent flooding here in Ireland is still unknown. Our inaction is costing us dearly not just financially, but also in people's lives and security. The losses we have incurred because of climate change far exceed the cost of low-carbon adaptation.

In an Irish context, climate change will have a major impact on agriculture. It is estimated by Trócaire that climate change could cost the agriculture sector between €1 billion and €2 billion per annum. It is clearly an issue that we will have to get to grips with, but we must also realise that our actions have an impact elsewhere and affect the lives and well-being of other global citizens. Our dependence on fossil fuels is an obvious area to tackle. Burning fossil fuels is the number one source of human-generated greenhouse gas emissions. If emissions continue to rise, we will be locked into devastating temperature rises. A more diversified, cleaner energy portfolio and increased energy efficiency are critical steps toward reducing our emissions. Ireland is a country rich in natural, renewable energy capabilities, which we should seek to exploit as much as possible. It is an area in which Ireland can lead the way.

The Paris climate conference agreement was a positive step towards coming together as a global community. It put together a plan to tackle those issues. Lower emissions targets agreed at the Paris conference present opportunities as well as challenges for Ireland. The central issue for us will be the negotiations to take place within the EU. While UN emissions targets agreed at Paris and New York are not legally binding, EU targets will be. We should carefully consider what we are capable of doing as a country in addition to the impact of such measures on our way of life.

Irish negotiators must push hard to have land use change and forestry recognised as major contributions to emission reductions. There are opportunities for Ireland to meet reduction targets as a result of those negotiations. For example, only 11% of our land is forested compared to 33% across the EU, so clearly that is a gap we can bridge. We could and should do better in that regard. Forests planted since 1990 absorb a massive 18% of our agriculture's annual greenhouse gas emissions.

Although the emission targets we signed up to in the Paris agreement are not legally binding - they will be determined by nations themselves - there is an obligation on us to achieve them, if we are serious about playing our part as responsible global citizens. Agriculture will clearly be a key concern for our nation, as it is one of our main industries. It is responsible for over 32% of national greenhouse gas emissions, compared to the EU average of 10%. We should, therefore, strive to do better in that area. This is a reflection of the relative absence of heavy industry in Ireland and the reliance on cattle and sheep production. It is essential that future methane and ammonia emission targets are balanced and fair to farmers. This is the challenge facing us.

However, binding targets on methane and ammonia could become self-defeating if they were to lead to the transfer of food production to other countries where targets are not as strict. We need to be careful how we navigate this course. This has already happened with manufacturing in other countries. Much manufacturing in the United States, for example, has been transferred to India and China. Consequently, it looks as if the United States is reducing its emissions but, globally, emissions remain static because they are being shifted elsewhere. We should, therefore, view ourselves as being part of a global community in the context of tackling climate change, rather than as independent nations. Moving the emissions problem elsewhere does not have the overall impact sought by the Paris agreement.

Transport is another key area where we can make clear improvements. Ireland's target under the EU renewable energy supply directive is to ensure that 10% of our transport energy comes from renewable sources by 2020. We are fast approaching 2020 so it is something we need to focus on. Fianna Fáil has championed the use of electric cars by making them a more realistic option. We need to roll out a better infrastructure in towns and cities, providing charging points at more convenient locations. We should also consider grants and other concessions for those who opt for electric cars. Public transport needs to be improved also, particularly in rural constituencies such as mine where such transport is pretty much non-existent. We should encourage people to leave their cars at home, but there is currently little incentive for them to do so.

The overall targets we envisage and the challenges we face should be framed in terms of opportunities in areas where we can improve and lead the way. We should look on these targets as opportunities to make improvements in how we produce energy, run our agricultural industry, transport and other areas causing emissions. There are new technologies out there that we can embrace. They can assist us in reducing our carbon footprint and we need to keep an open mind on them.

As an island country, we have fantastic opportunities in terms of renewable energy. We have the ability and space to plant more forests, for example. These are basic changes that we can introduce quickly. We should play to our strengths, including examining areas where we can make swift improvements and lead the way.

Let Ireland not follow but be the leader in tackling climate change in Europe and the world and realise our responsibilities as global citizens.

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