Ireland commits €23m to tackling climate change in developing countries

The Irish Government has announced it is committing €23m to tackling climate change in developing countries.

It is good news that the government is playing its part in helping those already affected by the devastating consequences of climate change.

Green Party Minister with responsibility for climate change, Ciarán Cuffe, addressed the COP16 UN conference on climate change in Cancun. Representing Ireland, Minister Cuffe said: “the next generation’s well-being depends on our actions in these negotiations.” He also said that he expects Irish climate legislation to be in place early next year.

The text of Minister Cuffe’s address follows:

Madame President, thank you for your sustained efforts to secure a positive outcome to the negotiations here in Cancun, and for the warm welcome provided by the Government and people of Mexico. Your constructive engagement with all Parties has created the right atmosphere for progress in these talks.

There is a moment in time when we must look beyond the relentless pursuit of economic growth. Real prosperity must reflect the future health and happiness of our children’s lives. That moment has arrived. It is now time to aim high in our thoughts and in our deeds. The next generation’s well-being depends on our actions in these crucial days. Our future development must be based on foundations that are socially, economically and environmentally sustainable. To that end Ireland’s Central Statistics Office is developing a new national welfare index that will reflect quality of life as well as economic indices.

Ireland supports the case for strong urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to stay as far below a 2 degree Celsius increase in global temperature. We know from the scientific advice that this is a necessity in order to avoid the worst effects of climate change. We must take a substantial step forward at COP 16 here in Cancun.

Ireland fully supports the international process under the Framework Convention on Climate Change. There is no realistic alternative and we urge all Parties, starting here in Cancun with the benefit of your guidance, to underpin the process with a powerful consensus built on partnership and energised with a resolute determination to succeed. We wish to contribute to that partnership. In collaboration with UNEP and the World Resources Institute, Ireland is supporting a new and exciting research project that will address a number of the most pressing issues in the negotiations. Our objective is to seek out innovative ideas and to provide analysis of these as an input to parties and other stakeholders to stimulate progress on these issues and the negotiations generally. With UNEP and WRI, we look forward to presenting the results of this research at the Bonn session in June next year.

Ireland is also playing its part at home. We will meet our greenhouse gas limitation target for the purposes of the Kyoto Protocol. We have commenced transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable society.

The Irish Government is currently finalising a legislative proposal that will provide statutory backing for our immediate and medium-term mitigation targets, and our longer-term transition objective. Our outlook is progressive and the legislation will provide the clarity and certainty for all stakeholders. The legislation is being progressed as a matter of urgency and I expect it to be in place early next year.

Madam President, no country can tackle climate change on its own; the task is too great. All Parties must work together in a spirit underpinned by mutual respect and support. Many developing countries who contributed least to climate change are already challenged by its impacts. Those countries don’t just need our support, they deserve it – Ireland is committed to honouring its contribution to the fast start financing commitment in the Copenhagen Accord.

Despite our economic challenges, the Irish Government is making a fast-start-finance contribution of €23million in 2010 through the Global Climate Change Alliance established and operated by the European Commission. Fast start finance was one of the most positive outcomes at COP 15. I hope that the response by developed countries will contribute to rebuilding trust and forging consensus that will enable early agreement on a fair and effective global response to climate change.

Madame President, the Russian poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko once wrote “The young … will not forgive in us what we forgave.” Truly the young will not forgive us for failure. Obstacles exist but we can look beyond them, we must look beyond them and see with clarity what is required. Our task here in Cancun is not easy. But I can assure you that Ireland will continue to support your efforts to reach a successful conclusion.”

You can watch Minister Cuffe’s address here – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN1BBzadmaI.