Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 June 2022
106. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position of the Government in relation to the creation of a loss and damage facility to compensate countries in the developing world for the disproportionate effects of climate breakdown in those regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33099/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraA key priority in my Department’s approach to climate diplomacy is to help build a coherent international response to climate-induced Loss and Damage. This will assist the responses of people living in the most vulnerable communities, particularly in Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, to the effects of climate change on the places where they live.
I believe that there is need to scale up and improve climate finance to the countries on the front lines of climate change, in particular to help avert, minimise and address Loss and Damage when extreme weather events or sea level rise impact on lives or livelihoods, or cause mass displacement. Scaled up finance will require quick and agile finance flows, based on equity and human rights, which requires us to bring experience from humanitarian and development assistance.
The Glasgow Dialogue was established at the UNFCCC negotiations in 2021 to discuss funding arrangements on Loss and Damage, further to the specific request by developing countries that a new finance facility under the UNFCCC be established. Ireland believes that the Glasgow Dialogue will be key to identifying the most efficient and effective ways to respond to the urgent needs of countries most affected by climate change.
Ireland is participating fully in, and informing, the Glasgow Dialogue as part of the EU team. Ireland has also shown leadership by proactively bringing in civil society, humanitarian actors, women, youth and indigenous peoples to influence the Dialogue, and by organising a technical roundtable in May. These initiatives helped to set the stage for the first Glasgow Dialogue meeting which took place in Bonn earlier this month.
In addition to our role in the Glasgow Dialogue, my officials work within the EU team on the negotiations to establish the Santiago Network which will provide technical assistance for Loss and Damage. More broadly Ireland plays a leading role on Loss and Damage in development and humanitarian policy fora.
