It is realistic for our legacy to be a sustainable planet, Micheál Martin tells Cop27 

The situation is urgent, but it is not hopeless, he said  

Micheál Martin speaks at the Cop27 UN Climate Summit, Picture: AP Photo/Peter Dejong

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said Ireland is seeing the effects of climate change in recent weeks as he addressed world leaders at the Cop27 summit in Egypt. 

Echoing his calls over previous days that the most vulnerable countries should be supported as a matter of priority from the larger economies, Mr Martin said “the burden of climate change globally is falling most heavily on those least responsible for our predicament”.  

“Our citizens will become increasingly cynical, weary and hopeless if words are not urgently matched by deeds; if commitments do not generate new realities. We can already see and feel the world around us changing.   

“Temperatures in Ireland have been so mild this autumn that trees are producing new growth before they have even dropped their leaves,” he said. 

The situation is urgent, but it is not hopeless, he added.  

"Climate change is fuelling conflict, global instability, competition for resources and abject human misery.

"If this generation doesn’t step up urgently, future generations will not forgive us."

Mr Martin highlighted how the Government has set "legally binding emission reduction targets" of 51% by 2030, and has committed to becoming climate-neutral by 2050.

“When I spoke at Cop26 last year I said I did not believe that it is too late; that the transition will be too costly; that it is inevitable that we will leave people behind. I believe it even more so now.   

“It is realistic for our legacy to be a sustainable planet; a world alive with an abundance of plant and animal life; with cleaner water and healthier air; with liveable cities and sustainable rural communities.   

“We will do everything in our power to bring it about. This generation of leaders cannot say that we didn’t know.   

“The science is clear. Every tonne of carbon warms the world. Every delay makes our task that bit bigger. Let us not waste a second more.” 

Meanwhile, United Nations security-general Antonio Guterres and leaders such as Barbados prime minister Mia Mottley said it was time to make fossil fuel companies contribute to funds which would provide vulnerable countries with financial aid for the climate-related losses they are suffering.