Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 November 2023
39. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications whether Ireland plans to enter new undertakings in the context of the upcoming COP 28; if he will outline his priorities for the event; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50278/23]
View answerCOP28, the annual UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties, will take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from 30 November to 12 December 2023. Ireland’s delegation will include representation across several Government Departments and Agencies, while attendance by civil society is also being supported through the allocation of over-flow delegation badges.
Ireland’s National Climate Delegation, an inter-departmental and cross-agency group of experts on climate change, is advising me on finalising Ireland’s COP28 negotiating priorities. In addition, Ireland continues to work alongside our EU colleagues through active participation in EU expert groups in preparation for the COP28 negotiations.
COP28 marks the conclusion of the first cycle of the Global Stocktake, a process that has assessed Parties’ collective progress towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and identified areas for future improvements. Substantive, equitable and transformative decisions on the Global Stocktake and Loss and Damage funding need to be taken at COP28. To enable the transformation necessary to limit global warming, additional finance must be mobilised to address the climate crisis. Making concrete progress on these issues is crucial for building climate resilience in developing countries and for delivering on the objectives of the Paris Agreement and the Glasgow Climate Pact.
As at previous COPs, a number of proposals for new climate initiatives have been put forward by various parties and bodies, including the United Arab Emirates COP Presidency. These are currently being assessed in consultation with other Government Departments in advance of the conference.
