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

The Taoiseach said we are keeping 1.5 alive, but there is no evidence of that. The world is on a trajectory of perhaps 3.5°C warming, if not worse. There is no greater illustration of the failure of COP27 and the failure of this capitalist system to address the climate crisis than the absence of a commitment even to phase out fossil fuels. The failure to recognise that and include it in the text speaks to the power of the fossil fuel lobbyists, 636 of whom were present at COP27, and the commitment of governments to protect the interests of big oil and gas. We have the same text as came from COP26 - efforts towards the phase-out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies. Now we have reference to an increase in low emission and renewable energy, which could mean anything, such as nuclear power, coal with carbon capture and storage, or fossil gas. Here, the Government plans to keep Moneypoint open, fuelled by oil and ramped up because of all the electricity required for the data centres.

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