Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We had very passionate speeches at the Paris conference. I think we can all agree climate change is extremely dangerous for our generation and also for future generations, which are facing a grim reality. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change tells us that, if we continue as we are, 50 million more people will be at risk of hunger by 2050. The World Bank tells us that, in 15 years time, if we keep going as we are, 100 million more people will join those who are already in extreme poverty.

The Paris Agreement is about multilateral action on climate change. We are now approaching the first anniversary of the agreement so we ask what can be achieved. One example brought to my attention is Ethiopia, where today there are 10 million people dependent on food aid due to persistent drought that has been worsened by the impacts of El Niño. We know the figure for carbon dioxide emissions in metric tonnes per capita in Uganda is 0.1 and in Ireland it is 10.5. Those countries which contribute least to greenhouse gases are the countries most impacted by climate change, and these countries are already suffering conflict, hunger and desperate poverty, as the Minister will know at first hand from his involvement with AWEPA.

The main causes of global warming, as we know, are burning fossil fuels and emissions. The fossil fuels account for two thirds of the emissions causing climate change yet, in 2015, some 70% of new energy investment was in fossil fuels. We are told that 80% of existing fossil fuel reserves must remain unburned if the Paris goals are to be met. It is vital that we do more to phase out fossil fuels. Some countries are having success and are using more wind and solar power than fossil fuels. Given the fossil fuel divestment movement, analysts are seeing that it is risky to invest in fossil fuels.

With regard to the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, will the Government divest public money away from fossil fuel industries and, instead, adopt a 100% renewable energy investment policy for the fund? The Minister, Deputy Noonan, replied to a parliamentary question by stating the issue of fossil fuel divestment "may" be considered as part of the process of the autumn review of the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund strategy. While he used the word "may", I hope that becomes "will". That would be an affirmation of the Paris Agreement.

Prevention of further climate change is better than reaction to climate change. Various reports tell us that it is up to 20 times cheaper to prevent further climate change as opposed to dealing with the effects and the costs of not being active.

I acknowledge the work of Trócaire and other NGOs that are in the countries of the Global South and other countries. They see at first hand the effects of the policies of the developed world. These effects include drought, food insecurity, malnutrition, starvation, ill health, early death and infant mortality, not to mention the effect on the animals that farmers and others need. So much is caused by what we are doing in our world.

The climatic events are exposing the vulnerability of the plans in place to fight poverty. It is believed they are putting the sustainable development goals under threat. It is not just an environmental issue: it is also an ethical and moral one.

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