Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

It is my turn now. It is clear that the political establishment are impressed with themselves and with COP26 to date, but are the young people impressed? They saw a conference opened up by Boris Johnson, dressed in green, but know that this is a man who slashed tax on domestic flights and support subsidies for the fossil fuel industry. They saw Jeff Bezos, the rocket man, pledge $2 billion to protect the environment. Yet, in one single year, this man's company, Amazon, emitted 44.4 million metric tonnes of CO2, more than the annual emissions of two thirds of the countries in the world. Mr. Bezos is typical of the men who lead the 100 corporations responsible for 71% of global emissions since 1988. The capitalist politicians, whose strings they pull, have organised 25 full COPs to date, the end result of which is a world on track for a 2.7°C increase in temperatures. Why on earth should the young generation place one iota of faith in these politicians to solve the crisis?

Tonight, I will pack my waterproofs, set my alarm and get ready to travel to Glasgow in the morning. Myself and a busload of young Socialist Party colleagues will join the International Socialist Alternative contingent, which will be part of the 100,000-strong protests on the streets of Glasgow this weekend. My hope for the future rests with the young people who will be on the streets around the world, including in Cork, Dublin, Belfast and other Irish cities, this weekend, and not on the Government politicians in the COP conference hall.

The Government delegation trotted off to Glasgow waving climate plan promises high in the air and solemnly posing as being amongst the best boys and girls in the global classroom. Only last week, the Government's Climate Change Advisory Council proposed a 4.8% CO2 emissions reduction target for 2022. Yesterday, we found out that this week's Cabinet meeting will lower that target. What was announced with some fanfare last Tuesday will be quietly watered down tomorrow. Best boys in the class, indeed. Yesterday, the Taoiseach signed off on a pledge to cut global methane emissions by 30%. No sooner was the ink dry on the agreement than the Tánaiste told the Dáil that our cuts will be just 10%. Behold, the best boys in the class kowtowing to big agri-business and the big dairy farmers, rather than protecting the interests of the next generation. The Taoiseach told the conference that Ireland will end deforestation by 2030. He did not tell the conference that his Government currently oversees the cutting down of 5 ha of trees for every 1 ha planted. Massive people-power pressure will need to be exerted on the Taoiseach and the best boys in the class for this promise to be upheld.

Will the Taoiseach tell the Dáil why a Government that claims to be serious about tackling climate change will not sign up to the pledge, currently on the table, to cut methane emissions by a modest 30%?

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