'Now is the time for meaningful action' on climate crisis, warns Gore

 All eyes were on Ireland’s plans for Marine Protected Areas on World Ocean Day as the Fair Seas inaugural conference took place in Cork. On the Celtic Mist are Rohan Fleury, Eamon Whitty,  and Alissa Fleury with Rohan Fleury and Aoife O'Mahony, Fair Seas Campaign Manager. Picture: Clare Keogh

This decade is the most decisive in the twin climate and biodiversity crises facing humanity, according to former US vice president Al Gore.

The noted climate change campaigner, who served as Bill Clinton's vice president from 1992 to 2000 and narrowly lost the 2000 election to George W Bush, told the Fair Seas World Ocean Day conference at Cork City Hall that Ireland is at the forefront of managing and protecting marine life.