Response to climate crisis cannot be delayed any longer

Decades of delay mean that all easy options are off the table. We must choose between voluntary austerity now — or widespread system collapse later.

Leaders of the UN climate conference, from left, Dr Hoesung Lee, chair of the IPCC, Simon Stiell, UN climate chief, and Alok Sharma, president of the COP26 climate summit, attend the opening session at the COP27 UN Climate Summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. Picture: AP Photo/Peter Dejong

It was by any standard a passionate, moving speech. The Taoiseach urged world leaders to show “conviction, clarity, courage and consistency” in dealing with the unfolding climate emergency.

“The hand of the future beckons, the clock ticks, and we have no time to waste,” the Taoiseach added ominously.