Costello welcomes climate change report

31 March 2014

by Cllr Joe Costello

Minister for Trade and Development, Joe Costello TD, today welcomed a UN report on the impacts of climate change.

The report, from the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, highlights the threats it poses to wellbeing, and challenges countries, communities, and the private sector to scale up action to adapt to the changing climate.

Minister Costello welcomed the report, saying: “Although climate change threatens all countries, it is the world’s poorest and most vulnerable nations and their peoples that suffer most and can cope least. We live in a world of plenty, but one which is reaching its environmental limits. We are struggling to feed a rapidly growing population under a changing climate.

"Ireland will continue to play a strong and active role in addressing the climate challenge. Since our EU Presidency in 2013, Ireland has been taking a lead in the negotiations for a new framework for global development post-2015 which will include efforts to address climate change. I am participating in the negotiations at the Open Working Group at the UN in New York on the development of new sustainable development goals.

"Through this work, and the work of our aid programme on the ground, we are determined to ensure that the interlinked challenges of hunger and climate change receive the urgent attention they need and deserve.”

Earlier this month Minister Costello visited the Philippines to review Ireland’s aid efforts following the destruction caused by Typhoon Haiyan in November. Minister Costello said: A few weeks ago, I saw for myself the devastation wreaked by extreme weather and the massive destruction caused when Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines.

“Through the Irish Aid programme, we have helped to ensure that the typhoon-affected communities can rebuild their livelihoods and strengthen their resilience in the face of future shocks that will most certainly continue to affect the region.

“We are committed to ensuring that Ireland’s humanitarian and development efforts and climate-sound and climate-smart.”