MINISTER'S ADDRESS:MINISTER FOR the Environment John Gormley last night urged the United States and China to make dramatic compromises to pave the way for a global deal on climate change.
In his address to the high-level plenary session at the UN Convention on Climate Change in Copenhagen, Mr Gormley made a special appeal to both countries.
“Both of you are responsible for half of the world’s CO2 emissions. You are two countries with a rich history which shows that you are capable of radical change, and I believe you can and will become world leaders in the fight against climate change,” he said.
Mr Gormley spoke to the conference late yesterday as the conference moved into its final day. Taoiseach Brian Cowen arrived in the Danish capital earlier in the evening and attended a dinner for heads of government last night. He will attend the final plenary session today.
Speaking on his arrival, Mr Cowen said it was incumbent on all the participants, large and small, wealthy or poor, to do all they could to secure a deal.
“We owe this to the future generations of Ireland, Europe and the world,” he said.
The Taoiseach, like Mr Gormley, referred to the responsibilities of the biggest global powers. “All key players must be party to a new agreement, including major powers like the US and China who, together, emit over half of global emissions.”
Mr Cowen said that reaching a solution would mean difficult choices and challenges, including for Ireland. He said he believed Europe was leading the way in supporting developing nations.
In a briefing with Irish journalists earlier, Mr Gormley said he was relieved the talks process was finally back on track after being stalled by procedural wrangling.
“We are finally out of the deadlock and we are now back into real negotiation,” said Mr Gormley.
“There is still a long way to go. It will need a real agreement which will require some very clear commitment by all the major players.”
In his speech, Mr Gormley defended the European Union, which, he said, had led the global effort on climate change.
“We have stated unequivocally that we will move to a 30 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions if there are comparable efforts from the other major blocs,” he said.
He said the targets for Ireland would represent a considerable challenge. Emissions for 2008 were about 58 million tonnes of CO2. A reduction to 30 per cent below 1990 levels would allow 37.8 million tonnes, not much more than half the current levels.
Colin Roche of Oxfam Ireland was critical of the lack of movement from major economies this week.
“After two weeks of talking, poor people faced with climate change don’t deserve to have their fate decided in just 24 hours,” he said. “It’s now time for rich countries to deliver.”
Molly Walsh of Friends of the Earth Ireland said it was good to see the United States finally talking about putting longer-term funding on the table to solve the climate crisis, but the proposal announced today needs to be examined closely.
She also called for the “rich industrialised nations to live up to their historical responsibilities”.