Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, together.

I participated in the world leaders summit at the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties, COP27, in Sharm el-Sheikh on 7 and 8 November. On 8 November, I delivered Ireland's national statement to the plenary session, taking the opportunity to set out Ireland's climate ambition and the Government's commitment to supporting vulnerable countries which, despite having contributed least to climate change, are bearing the brunt of its impact. While the situation is very serious, I was clear that it is not too late to act and that it is realistic for our legacy to be a sustainable planet.

I engaged in a number of high-level events and round-table discussions, including on food security and on the sustainability of vulnerable communities. I joined the President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, and the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, at a high-level event on “The Global Shield Against Climate Risks”, where I announced that Ireland will contribute €10 million to the initiative for 2023.

I also availed of my visit to COP to hold a bilateral meeting with the President of Vanuatu and had the opportunity to engage with a number of fellow world leaders over the course of the two days. I heard first-hand from the Prime Minister of Pakistan and others of the devastation caused to their countries by the devastating impacts of climate change.

While at COP27, I also met with the Secretary General of Amnesty International, Agnes Callamard, a number of Irish youth climate advocates, representatives of humanitarian NGOs, and international delegates supported by Irish Aid. I also met with a number of academics and students from UCC and UCD, second level students, and with a representative of the EPA.

In my engagements, I highlighted Ireland's ambition to see progress on the issue of loss and damage and on the implementation of commitments to take action to mitigate climate change, and to deliver upon climate finance promises. Ireland has committed to more than double our climate finance provision to at least €225 million a year by 2025.

I welcome the historic agreement reached at COP27 to establish a special loss and damage fund to pay for climate-related damage suffered by vulnerable nations. This will mean that millions of people whose land, water sources and livelihoods are being eroded every day because of the impacts of climate change, can begin to look forward to targeted and strengthened support and protection from the global community. While the overall agreement does not go far enough on the issue of mitigation, the commitment of the conference to keep “1.5 alive” is important and welcome. The European Union will continue to work to keep the ambition of the Paris Agreement within reach.

See this speech in context