Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take questions No. 20 to 27, inclusive, together.

I attended the World Climate Action Summit at the outset of the 28th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties, or COP28, in Expo City, Dubai, on 1 and 2 December. The summit marked the commencement of two weeks of negotiations on climate change, including progressing the finance needed to mitigate and manage its consequences. The latest negotiating text published yesterday is disappointing, particularly in relation to fossil fuels. It is weak and unacceptable to the EU, US and others. Negotiations are continuing and I hope that progress can be made and an ambitious outcome achieved.

COP28 is of particular significance as it marks the conclusion of the first global stocktake, a comprehensive assessment of the progress made in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. During the summit, I attended a leaders’ event on transforming climate finance and confirmed Ireland’s endorsement of the UAE declaration on a global finance framework aimed at making finance for climate action available, accessible and affordable. I participated in the global stocktake high-level event on the means of implementation, during which I emphasised the importance of delivering on commitments made and ensuring an adequate supply of finance. I also spoke at the launch of the Climate Club, co-hosted by Germany and Chile, which is a forum to facilitate collaborative work on reducing emissions in sectors that are hard to decarbonise.

On 2 December I gave Ireland’s national statement, where I announced that Ireland will contribute €25 million in 2024 and 2025 to the new loss and damage fund and will make further contributions thereafter. Overall, Ireland will double its international climate finance to at least €225 million per year by 2025.

While in Dubai, I had the opportunity to meet with Middle Eastern and Arab leaders to discuss the conflict and the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and to express Ireland’s appreciation for the assistance they gave us in evacuating Irish citizens from the territory.

I met other world leaders, including King Charles, the President of Brazil, the President of Ghana, the Prime Minister of India, the UK Prime Minister, the Prime Minister of Barbados and the Prime Minister of Fiji, as well as many European leaders who I meet regularly in Brussels. I also visited the Irish delegation and met with Irish youth climate advocates, representatives of humanitarian NGOs and academics.

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