Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 November 2019
860. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the pledges, initiatives, partnerships and funding committed to in the context of the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit nine action areas; the nature of commitment and involvement by Ireland in each of the coalitions and multi-state initiatives established as part of the summit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44812/19]
View answerThe UN Climate Action Summit, which took place on 23 September, was convened by the UN Secretary General to build momentum towards enhanced climate ambition by Parties to the Paris Agreement. This was preceded on Saturday, 21 September, by the Youth Climate Summit. Parties to the summit were invited to make new commitments under a number of different themes, include mitigation strategy; resilience and adaptation; climate finance and carbon pricing; social and political drivers; energy transition; resilience and adaptation; nature-based solutions; infrastructure, cities and local government; industry; and youth engagement and public mobilisation. Ireland has confirmed support for a number of initiatives under different themes for the Climate Action Summit which are aligned with domestic policy priorities and these are set out below.
1. Mitigation Strategy Coalition
Ireland was included on a list of countries and non-Party stakeholders that demonstrated genuine leadership either by having developed plans to achieve net zero CO emissions by 2050, by having identified this target as a long-term national goal or by advancing consultations on a long-term strategy for climate-neutrality in line with the Paris Agreement.
2. Resilience and Adaptation Coalition
- Call for Action: Raising Ambition for Climate Ambition
- InsuResilience Initiative
- Global Commission on Adaptation Agriculture Food Security Initiative
- Africa Adaptation Initiative
- LDC Initiative for Effective Adaptation and Resilience (LIFE-AR)
3. Social and Political Drivers Coalition
- Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Climate Action Initiative
- Health as a Political Driver for increased Climate Ambition on Climate Change
- Addressing the Impacts of Climate Change on Culture and Natural Heritage
- Just Transition and the Creation of Green Jobs for All
4. Energy Transition Coalition
- Decarbonising Shipping: Getting to Zero Coalition
- Three Percent Club for Energy Efficiency
5. Nature-Based Solutions Coalition
- Nature Based Coalition
6. Industry Coalition
- Leadership Group for Industry Transition
7. Youth Engagement and Public Mobilisation Coalition
Ireland and the Marshall Irelands jointly sponsored the preparation of the 'Kwon Gesh' (or "Solemn Duty") climate pledge, which invites its signatories to give the younger generation a greater voice in creating climate policy.
A full list of the announcements and commitments made at the Climate Summit can be found at UN climate website at www.un.org/climatechange.
The commitments entered into by Ireland do not give rise to any new funding commitments for the State. In terms of next steps, it is now a matter for the lead countries to determine how each initiative can be further developed and implemented. My Department expects to have further engagement from the relevant lead countries in relation to each initiative over the coming months.
