Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 May 2017
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Official Engagements
245. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department will be represented in the Irish delegation to the meetings of the UNFCCC SBI and SBSTA in Bonn in May 2017; if it will attend the side events on climate action for transport mitigation and adaptation and strengthening leadership on low carbon transport to deliver long-term climate goals. [22350/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe forty-sixth sessions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA), as well as the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement, take place from 8 to 18 May 2017, in Bonn, Germany. These meetings take place annually and are key to making progress on a range of technical matters related to the implementation of the UNFCCC and of the Paris Agreement between each session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC.
A range of side events are scheduled to take place in the margins of these meetings over the course of the two weeks. While not part of the programme of official negotiations, these events afford a platform for observer organisations to engage with Parties and other participants with a view to knowledge sharing, capacity building, networking and exploring options for addressing the objectives of the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement.
Ireland's delegation at these particular meetings comprises officials from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Key stakeholder government departments not represented as part of Ireland's delegation, including my department, participate in regular National Delegation Meetings arranged to assist Ireland's delegation to prepare for participation and to disseminate information and findings. Ireland's delegation liaises regularly with other Departments and agencies, as appropriate, during the meetings as issues relevant to their areas of responsibility arise.
