A North Clare climate activist insists the COP 27 summit is a worthwhile exercise as the world attempts to curb its carbon emissions.
Taoiseach Mícheal Martin is attending the World Leaders Summit on behalf of Ireland at the event in Egypt today.
The United Nations’ Secretary General Antonio Guterres opened the COP 27 event with a stark warning today.
The World Meterological Organisation, which is a UN body, says the past eight years are the warmest on record.
It says the rate of sea level rise has doubled since 1993 – and in the past two years alone its increase by 10 millimetres.
The global temperature is estimated to be 1.15 degrees above the pre-industrial age – which is the barometre for climate change.
A previous UN report said there’s no credible pathway to keeping global temperature rises to within 1.5 degrees – and with current policies we are on course for a 2.8 degree rise.
However, a North Clare climate activist who has travelled to Egypt for this week’s summit believes though the event may only provide for small steps, it is worth holding.
Theresa O’ Donohoe, who’s based in Lisdoonvarna and a member of Futureproof Clare, says previous summits in Paris and Glasgow have provided small elements of progress.
The new Green Party rep for Ennis wants the summit to give ‘renewed impetus’ to implementing the Government’s Climate Action Plan.
It’s been a year since the plan was published, which sets out a roadmap for Ireland to achieve a 51 percent reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
Bridget Ginnity believes there is evidence of progress in the first year of the plan.
COP 27 will run until Friday, the 18th of November.
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