Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE) | Oireachtas source

The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC, report was described by the UN Secretary General as "an atlas of human suffering and a damning indictment of failed climate leadership". The latest report talks of a "rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a livable and sustainable future for all". It says that up to three quarters of the world's population faces life-threatening climatic conditions this century due to extreme heat if we do not act to stop climate change. The IPCC chair, Dr. Hoesung Lee, warned that half measures are no longer an option. The report calls for 30% to 50% of our land, rivers and oceans to be conserved in order to maintain biodiversity, yet Ireland only has 2.4% of its seas covered by MPAs, MPAs. Will the Taoiseach act on the science when it comes to the devastation facing us. Will he act and agree to have 30% of our sea areas designated as MPAs?

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