Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has raised the question of the Kyoto Protocol and global warming in discussions with his counterparts from other countries; when and the context in which he raised these issues; his views on whether this is the biggest challenge facing humanity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19741/06]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Kyoto Protocol fall under the remit of my colleague Dick Roche T.D., Minister for the Environment and Local Government. However, I am happy to make a statement on the issue from the perspective of our development co-operation programme and the potential impact of climate change on developing countries.

I believe that climate change is probably the greatest environmental challenge facing humanity in the coming years. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Fourth Assessment Report is due out next year, and we must await its findings to obtain the most up-to-date assessment of the risks posed by climate change.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is primarily the responsibility of developed countries. The challenge for developing countries is to adapt to these inevitable changes in climate. They will impact on human health, nutrition and food security as well as physical infrastructure. Poor countries and especially their poorest people, are most vulnerable to its effects. In this regard, sub-Saharan Africa is likely to suffer significantly.

The Least Developed Country Fund of the UNFCCC, to which Ireland was one of the first contributors, has financed the preparation of National Adaptation Programmes of Action in Least Developed Countries, and the process of their preparation has increased awareness of climate change amongst key officials.

Our approach to the challenge of climate change in developing countries will be outlined in the forthcoming White Paper on Development Co-operation. Our strategy will be to assist developing countries to prepare for, and adapt to, changing environmental conditions and to promote knowledge about the impact of climate change and its integration into all development planning.

At present, Ireland supports the UN Climate Change Capacity Development Programme, which builds the capacity of decision-makers in developing countries to plan for climate change.

Other examples of climate change actions we support, in collaboration with the Department of the Environment and Local Government include: €1.7 million each year starting in 2005 for the Least Developed Countries Fund, used to address the most urgent adaptation issues highlighted in National Adaptation Plans of Action; €500,000 a year from 2005 which we contribute to the Special Climate Change Fund to support adaptation activities in developing countries and to facilitate transfer of environmentally sound technologies; support for the participation of developing country representatives in the climate change negotiations and support for the Least Developed Countries Expert Group, which advises Least Developed Countries on planning for climate change.