John McGahon (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I attended the last two COPs at Glasgow and Sharm el-Sheikh, one of the unintended benefits of being elected to the Oireachtas. I would never have attended the conferences had I not been a member of the Oireachtas Committee on Environment and Climate Action. Both conferences were really eye opening, and this was particularly true of events organised by the International Parliamentary Union, IPU. In Egypt, for example, I was in a room with 181 parliamentarians from around the world. One of the key messages that came from countries like Pakistan, one third of which was under water at the time, and from island nations in the Pacific Ocean, where villages were being relocated because of rising sea levels, was that this would come for everyone else too. Climate change is not just an issue for countries on the far side of the world. If we do not do something to reduce global temperatures and if we do not engage in sustainable climate action that has a real impact, these disasters will happen in the western world as well. That point was made very clearly at COP27.

One of the issues I spoke about in Egypt was the need to reframe the narrative and debate around climate action, climate change and what we can do. What do I mean by reframing the debate? Often in Ireland it is framed as being about giving up things to be sustainable or conscientious in the context of climate change. We are told we have to sacrifice or give up something, but we need to reframe that debate. This is not about giving up something but about the huge opportunities in green technology that can lead to economic development and job creation. We are on the cusp of a renewable revolution in this country. If we keep going as we are, by the end of this decade we could be an absolute powerhouse of renewable energy for the European Union and the entire Continent. In terms of wind energy, we are on the periphery of the European Union, but if we do it properly, as per our targets, we will end up being a net exporter of renewable energy. We will be able to export some of our excess wind energy to other European countries, especially within the EU, and that is really exciting. A significant number of jobs will be created and it will have a huge impact on our economy, not to mention the number of homes it will be possible to power. There is a lot to be excited about when it comes to renewable energy.

Another issue that was widely discussed at COP27 was that the average person wants to be able to do something and wants to contribute to climate action. In that context, it is important to provide financial incentives and to make sure any action people can take is as simple as possible. A great example of this is the recently introduced deposit return scheme, under which consumers will be given cash for their trash. It is not unlike the system whereby you pay a euro to use a trolley in the supermarket, and when you return the trolley, you get the euro back. Approximately 1.9 billion plastic bottles are used in Ireland every year, and even with the greatest will in the world, we are not going to be able to recycle all of them. Our target is to recycle 77% of those bottles by 2027 and 90% by 2029. With the deposit return scheme, machines will be installed throughout the country which will greatly enhance accessibility, and this means that we will hit, if not surpass,our targets. That scheme is a really good example of what can be done at the individual level. Recycling is one of the most powerful things an individual can do in the fight against climate change.

I attended an event yesterday about the circular economy. A number of speakers pointed out that, five years ago, sustainability was not an issue for businesses but now every business and every CEO is focused on the sustainability and the green credentials of the products they are producing. They are doing this because it is the right thing to do and because consumers are more climate conscious than ever before. Consumers are making dedicated choices based on the green credentials of the products they want to buy. I certainly see that with my 22-year-old sister's generation. People in their teens and early 20s are far more climate conscious in their buying choices, and brands, producers and business are having to follow their lead, which is great.

Ireland is facing into a very exciting decade when it comes to renewable energy, and that is something of which we should be very proud. The debate on climate change should always be framed in terms of the opportunities it will create for society, the economy and the world in general.