Grace O'Sullivan (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The 2018 sustainable development goals report, Global Responsibilities - Implementing the Goals, was issued just this week. This index is a measure of progress across all 17 sustainable development goals. Countries like Sweden, Denmark and Finland are top of the ranking in terms of their progress towards achieving their goals by 2030. It was no shock to see that, with regard to the sustainable development goals relating to the environment, Ireland is on the red list, which means we have a very poor status. When it comes to the proportion of renewable energy in the total amount of electricity we consume, we have a red mark and a very poor rating. When it comes to responsible consumption and production, again Ireland fares really badly. On climate action and energy emissions, again we see a red dot and Ireland performing very poorly. On sustainable development goal 14, life below water, Ireland receives a red dot in respect of ocean health. Ireland again performs very badly. We seem to be missing leadership when it comes to environment and water health. In fact, with regard to life on land, Ireland is not performing and receives a red mark in respect of the annual change in forest area. We are not, in any way, moving towards achieving the sustainable development goals we have signed up to by 2030.

I want the Members of the House to be aware of this. We have to work together and we have to try to meet our international obligations. We have to work together to put pressure on the Government and on Members of all parties and none to work towards protecting the Irish environment. This index shows we are not measuring up whatsoever, so we need to take action.