Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I have a series of amendments. The theme is essentially that we need to incorporate nature-based solutions into our climate change adaptation and mitigation policies. There has been a real gap to date and that gap is reflected in this Bill as well. It is a wasted opportunity because it fails to recognise the value of nature-based solutions and what they can add not only from a climate mitigation and adaptation perspective but also in the sense of the bang for our buck we get with it. Essentially, it will also provide major biodiversity services as well.

When we are taking about nature-based solutions we mean using kelp beds as a carbon storage facility. People are aware of the carbon storage potential of trees but they are not aware that sea grasses have major potential as well. We need to start protecting and enhancing these options to assist in climate action and from a biodiversity perspective.

Many things that happen as a result of climate change like flooding are the effects we will feel but they can be mitigated by using nature. Essentially, nature is the tool that I believe will give us most effect when it comes to this. Let us consider the case of flooding. Rather than the first port of call being to pick up a digger and cement and build a big sea wall, we should look upstream to see what works we can provide there. Can we plant in different ways? Can we provide flood plain areas and manage them? Our nature, rivers and seas are dynamic systems and we need to learn to work with them rather than against them. We will never win the fight if we work against them.

The Minister will see a theme throughout each of my amendments. We need to incorporate nature-based systems into how we deal with climate change. The Bill does not do that. I hope the Minister will take that on board and incorporate them somehow. If we do not specify or spell them out in the Bill, there is a risk that by precluding them it will seem they are not to be utilised at all. This is important when we look at our technological responses to climate change. Obviously they play a major part and will be important in how we address it. We also need to spell out the nature-based solutions that can help as well.

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