Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 50 together.

I think Deputy Sherlock has extended the question he originally asked considerably, but that is fair and proper. This year's United Nations climate conference, COP24, took place in Katowice in Poland over the past two weeks. I participated in the opening of the conference and also attended the high-level segment last week where I delivered Ireland's national statement and had a series of engagements, including with the authors of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC, special report, EU ministerial colleagues, ministers from other nations, the Green Climate Fund and Adaptation Fund, which we support, and non-governmental organisations working for climate action, so it was a very informative session.

The message from the UN climate conference was stark. The window of opportunity to contain the level of climate disruption is closing very rapidly. The consequences of failure are catastrophic. We saw this at first hand with regard to some Pacific islands, which face an existential threat as to whether their communities can survive. The other positive thing is that the technologies are largely available to meet the challenge. The challenge involves how we can collectively motivate our communities and organise the resources to make the changes. The other positive thing is that, by and large, there are positive economic and social outcomes in terms of health, the economy and the environment associated with meeting these targets. The challenge to governments was very stark.

The agreement was significant. Europe was pushing for more ambition but the rule book is nonetheless significant because, for the first time, countries like China and Germany will be measured against the same standard. All countries will make their contribution commitment from which they can never withdraw. A country can only improve its commitment. There will be an effort to improve it next year.

The conference was a qualified success. The funding mechanisms that were discussed were not for Ireland. They were funding mechanisms whereby better-off countries like Ireland contribute to change. At the conference, I announced an additional €4.5 million for the Adaptation Fund, the Green Climate Fund and the nationally determined contributions, NDC, scheme. We increased our funding. It is part of better-off states helping in terms of the adjustments relating to countries like the Pacific islands and Senegal, which face very serious challenges.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

This conference was a significant milestone in international climate policy. Since the adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015, the focus of international negotiations has been on the design of the structures and implementing rules which will enable the Paris Agreement to come into operation. Parties to the Paris Agreement committed in 2015 to concluding work on these implementing rules by the end of this year. This work has reached a successful conclusion. The agreed rules put in place the structures for tracking global emissions, providing capacity building and financial support and facilitating action to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

COP24 also saw the conclusion of a year-long process of reflection on the imperative of scaling up global efforts to address climate change, facilitated by the current and previous COP presidencies, Poland and Fiji. Informed by the IPCC special report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C, the outcome of this Talanoa Dialogue will facilitate a re-examination by parties of their existing commitments and consideration of whether to submit more ambitious commitments by 2020.

In my national statement to the conference, I underlined the importance of global multilateral engagement in driving momentum towards more ambitious climate polices. I informed the conference of my intention to develop an all-of-Government plan to help make Ireland a leader in responding to climate change.

At the conference, I announced additional climate funding for 2018 totalling €4.5 million for a range of organisations supporting developing counties to implement their climate policies, including the Green Climate Fund, the Adaptation Fund, and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. I was also able to announce additional funding for the IPCC to support its very important work in informing the international community with the best available scientific advice on climate change.

Alongside the formal negotiations, COP meetings also provide a valuable opportunity for countries, regions and the private sector to showcase climate related initiatives. My officials and I participated in a number of meetings and side events relating to emission reduction initiatives that will help inform the further development of Ireland's domestic climate policies, including side events on the design of urban infrastructure, on energy transition and on e-vehicle infrastructure.

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