Climate Action Plan Brought to International Stage
Ireland joins Climate Neutrality Coalition
Minister to sign Niulakita High Ambition Declaration on Shipping
Government doubles contribution to Green Climate Fund for global climate action
The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Mr Richard Bruton T.D. has today (Wednesday the 11th of December) travelled to Madrid, Spain to deliver Ireland’s national statement at the Twenty-fifth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP 25).
Speaking from Madrid today the Minister said,
Climate disruption is the biggest challenge of our time. It requires an unprecedented level of international co-operation. I believe it can be done and Ireland is determined to play its part. We are now implementing the Climate Action Plan which will ensure we meet our future climate commitments, putting us on a trajectory to be net zero emissions by 2050.
The Minister will deliver Ireland’s national statement today. He will also participate in a number of high level negotiations, as the final elements of the rule book for the Paris Agreement continues to be agreed by the signatories.
Ireland is among a coalition of countries which will support higher ambition. The Carbon Neutrality Coalition (CNC) commits countries to:
- The development of long-term low greenhouse gas emission climate-resilient strategies;
- Demonstrating and showcasing such strategies with the objective, inter alia, of mainstreaming climate action throughout the economy and incentivising investment flows and technological innovation;
- Providing leadership “through exchange of experiences, information, tools and case studies towards setting pathways for carbon neutrality”;
- Advocating for increased global ambition on mitigation and undertaking climate action to match the ambition reflected in the Paris Agreement;
- Encouraging other countries to become members of the Coalition;
- Encouraging alignment of subnational and non-State actors with the objectives of the Coalition.
Minister Bruton said,
In September Ireland led a UN Youth Forum on Climate at the United Nations Climate Action Summit in New York – 140 states and over 1,000 young people took part. The message was clear. Act now so we don’t rob young people of their inheritance and, empower new ideas.
Since then Ireland has mobilized the 2020 budget behind our Climate Action Plan. By joining the neutrality Coalition we commit to develop the roadmap for 2050, to embed this goal in every element of policy to mobilize citizens and enterprise and to work with other countries for concerted effort. The world is watching. We must catch this historic tide in the affairs of mankind.
The Minister will also confirm Ireland’s support for the Niulakita High Ambition Declaration on Shipping which promotes short, medium and long-term measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the maritime transport sector by at least 40% by 2030 and at least 70% by 2050 compared to 2008.
Minister Bruton said,
All sectors must step up and decarbonise to secure the kind of radical change that is needed.
The Minister announced that Ireland is signing up to a multi-annual pledge to the Green Climate Fund which helps developing countries make the transition doubling our annual commitment during this period, with a total contribution of €18million for the period 2019 to 2023. This is in addition to € 196.7million international climate finance. Ireland has contributed from 2016 to 2018 s to developing countries. Ireland has also committed an additional €3M in total funding in 2019 to the Least Developed Countries which focuses its support to the countries vulnerable to climate change.
As we look to increase climate ambition it is crucial that we support those who will find it the most difficult to make the transition Ireland is doubling our annual contribution to the Green Climate Fund in addition to the €80M international climate finance Ireland contributed in 2018 to support developing countries for climate action measures.
This funding will go towards providing technical expertise and helping developing countries adapt to the impacts of climate disruption.
Ireland remains fully committed to implementing the objectives of the Paris Agreement. The Climate Action Plan, published earlier this year, is the Government's plan to ensure Ireland reaches the 2030 emissions targets and puts us on a trajectory to be net zero emissions by 2050.
Notes for Editors
Ireland's support for international climate change action
Ireland has committed to scaling up its financial contributions in support of the commitment given by developed country Parties to the UNFCCC in 2009 to jointly mobilize US$100 billion annually by 2020 from public and private sources to support climate action in developing countries. At COP 21 in Paris, Ireland committed to providing at least €175 million between 2016 and 2020, to increase its contributions to the Least Developed Countries Fund and to commence contributions to the Green Climate Fund.
Ireland has already exceeded this commitment with public financial support provided to address climate change in developing countries increasing year on year, with support of €196.7million from the period 2016 to 2018 respectively. This funding is 100% grant based and with a focus on adaptation. While the majority of this funding falls within the scope of the Irish Aid under the remit of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment provides contributions to a number of relevant organisations under the auspices of, or affiliated with, the UNFCCC, including the Green Climate Fund.
Further to this, Ireland has also been contributing to the Green Climate Fund the principal financial mechanism under the Paris Agreement. During the negotiation of the Paris Agreement in 2015, Ireland pledged to support the Green Climate Fund and has contributed €2million in the period 2016 - 2018. Ireland will contribute a further €2milllion this year. As part of Budget 2020 through the increase to the carbon price, Ireland will double our annual commitment to the fund to €4million in 2020. Going beyond 2020, Ireland has now signed up to the multi-annual pledge as part of the first replenishment of the GCF. As part of this pledge, Ireland has committed to provide an annual contribution of €4million up to 2023. It is essential that developing countries are supported in taking ambitious action to reduce their emissions and in adapt to the impacts of climate change.