merrion street

Phil Hogan, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government today (2nd December 2011) announced that he is proposing that Ireland make a further contribution of €10 million this year towards Ireland’s fast start finance commitment to help least developed countries tackle the effects of climate change. The Minister indicated that Dáil approval will be sought next week to make the contribution from savings arising in his Department’s Vote this year.

In 2009, developed countries committed to contributing USD$30 billion over the period 2010 to 2012 to assist developing countries in addressing the impacts of climate change. Ireland’s contribution to the EU pledge of €7.2 billion was a commitment to contribute up to €100 million.

To date, Ireland has delivered €66 million towards our commitment. This includes a contribution of €23 million from the Minister’s Department in 2010 to the Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA) established by the European Commission in 2007. The GCCA is active in a number of Least Developed Countries, including some of Ireland’s priority Overseas Development Assistance countries. Last year’s €23 million contribution is assigned to support projects in Uganda, Mozambique, Sierra Leone and Vietnam.

Announcing his intention to seek Dail approval, Mr. Hogan said "In spite of our very difficult economic circumstances at home, we cannot forget that it is the people of the developing world – who contributed least to global warming – that are first to suffer its punishing impacts; they are on the immediate climate frontline. As I prepare to travel to the Durban climate conference, I am determined that Ireland should demonstrate its continuing solidarity with the least developed countries in their efforts to tackle the effects of climate change. The additional contribution of €10 million which I am now proposing provides tangible evidence of this determination."

Of the €10 million additional contribution now proposed, it is intended that €8m would be provided to the EU’s GCCA, with €2m being provided to the Least Developed Countries Fund established under the UNFCCC. Both the Global Climate Change Alliance and the Least Developed Countries Fund have a very strong development focus and are targeted primarily at Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).