Minister for Trade and Development, Joe Costello TD, today welcomed a UN report on the impacts of climate change.
The report, from the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, highlights the threats it poses to wellbeing, and challenges countries, communities, and the private sector to scale up action to adapt to the changing climate.
Minister Costello welcomed the report, saying:
“Although climate change threatens all countries, it is the world’s poorest and most vulnerable nations and their peoples that suffer most and can cope least. We live in a world of plenty, but one which is reaching its environmental limits. We are struggling to feed a rapidly growing population under a changing climate.
"Ireland will continue to play a strong and active role in addressing the climate challenge. Since our EU Presidency in 2013, Ireland has been taking a lead in the negotiations for a new framework for global development post-2015 which will include efforts to address climate change. I am participating in the negotiations at the Open Working Group at the UN in New York on the development of new sustainable development goals.
"Through this work, and the work of our aid programme on the ground, we are determined to ensure that the interlinked challenges of hunger and climate change receive the urgent attention they need and deserve.”
Earlier this month Minister Costello visited the Philippines to review Ireland’s aid efforts following the destruction caused by Typhoon Haiyan in November. Minister Costello said:
“A few weeks ago, I saw for myself the devastation wreaked by extreme weather and the massive destruction caused when Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines.
“Through the Irish Aid programme, we have helped to ensure that the typhoon-affected communities can rebuild their livelihoods and strengthen their resilience in the face of future shocks that will most certainly continue to affect the region
“We are committed to ensuring that Ireland’s humanitarian and development efforts and climate-sound and climate-smart.”
ENDS
Press Office
31 March 2014
Notes to editors:
Irish Aid is the Government’s overseas development programme. It is managed by the Development Cooperation Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Ireland’s Policy for International Development, One World, One Future, prioritises the issue of climate change and development. The Irish Aid programme puts climate at the heart of Ireland’s efforts to reduce poverty and hunger. Recognising that climate change has a greater impact on Least Developed Countries, Ireland supports the world’s poorest countries to adapt to and mitigate against climate change. Through both emergency response and long term development efforts, Ireland helps communities to cope with sudden climatic shocks, to build their resilience to the adverse impacts of climate change and to provide opportunities for low-carbon green development.