Letters to the Editor: Progress has to be made on climate financing

A lorry is stuck in floodwater during heavy rains in Mogadishu, Somalia. The worst flooding to hit Somalia in decades has killed many people and forced thousands to flee their homes. Picture: AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh

Global leaders gathered at Cop28 must make progress on increasing levels of climate financing, as well as delivering on existing funding commitments, and ensuring funds reach the world’s poorest countries which are severely impacted by climate change.

The devastating impact that climate change is having on some of the world’s most vulnerable countries means there needs to be an urgency about the scale of climate finance commitments made at Cop28 and a clear pathway as to how they will be delivered.

The announcement on the opening day regarding the “loss and damage” fund is welcome although we need to see the level of commitment by countries towards funding it to estimate how valuable it will be to impacted countries.

To appreciate the scale of the climate emergency, global leaders should pay attention to Somalia where the drought which has ravaged the country for the last two years is currently being followed by the worst flooding in 35 years. Large tracts of the country are under water, leaving 2m people in need of emergency assistance. Bridges have been washed away and homes and farms destroyed.

The evidence we are seeing in Somalia and in communities facing devastating floods, droughts, heatwaves, cyclones, and rising sea levels means global leaders must urgently escalate measures to help those impacted.

Through the UN climate process, high-income countries committed to allocate $100bn annually by 2020 through to 2025 to help low-income countries reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address the impacts of climate change. Cop28 must show if that commitment has been delivered upon and provide a clear pathway to ensure it is achieved.

Climate finance agreements made at Cop28 must also ensure funding reaches countries that need it most. Low-income countries where there is conflict and which are impacted by climate change often have greater difficulty securing climate finance.

Low-income countries are exposed to some of the most severe climate impacts, have the least capacity to adapt, and find it hardest to recover. They also have the fewest resources available with which to respond. They urgently require international support to help them deal with the impacts of climate change.

Réiseal Ní Chéilleachair

Head of Global Advocacy,

Concern Worldwide, Dublin 2

McEntee vote vital for democracy

I am writing to express my deep concern over the recent events surrounding the security breach in our capital city and the subsequent riots. While the motion of no confidence in Justice Minister Helen McEntee may be inconvenient for some, it is an essential aspect of our democratic process.

The opposition’s duty is to hold the government accountable, and in this instance, there has been a significant failure in security leading to chaos on our streets. The handling of the situation has been abysmal, and Minister McEntee’s interviews have lacked strength and clarity.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee: Faced a motion of no confidence following the Dublin riots. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

The upcoming vote of no confidence provides an opportunity not only to address these security lapses but also to scrutinise the rise of the far-right. It is crucial, however, to differentiate the actions of the mob from any legitimate political stance. Looting and violence are not acceptable responses in any democracy.

The role of social media must be examined in this context, along with the responsibility of political parties in disseminating information. 

Fine Gael’s posts on social platforms raise concerns and are reminiscent of a Trump-esque approach, lacking in factual accuracy. The Central Statistics Office van provide empirical data on crime rates and the electorate can make up their own minds. 

What I will say is that Minister McEntee’s continued protestations that Dublin is safe ring hollow and both empirical data and anecdotal evidence will tell you differently as will the footfall experienced by Dublin city centre retailers.

As discussions unfold next week, I hope they will lead to a more focused response to the risks facing our society. Regardless of Minister McEntee’s fate, it is essential to address the threat posed by those who claim to represent a political ideology but are, in reality, disruptive opportunists.

Killian Brennan

Malahide Road, Dublin 17

Challenging the unsocial networks

In an interesting ruling, US district judge Donald Molloy has blocked Montana’s attempt at banning TikTok while the matter is being challenged in courts. There are concerns that this restricts people’s rights, including the freedom of speech, but also China’s ability to use the information.

There are, however, many ways for people to express their views on any topic, but this seems the silliest way given the usual items that appear with Facebook not far behind. What really needs to be banned is the bullying, outrageous conspiracy theories, misinformed views, and the addictive nature of these sites that waste so much of young people as well as a number of older people who should be more sensible.

Could any court or even any deity change the unsocial media platforms we see to real social media platforms? I doubt it.

Dennis Fitzgerald

Melbourne, Australia

X marks the spot

Many tides ago, the letter X indicated where the pirate’s treasure was buried. It was also accepted as a signature for those misfortunates unable to sign an agreement. X was also the rating given to raunchy films. Later it was an accepted abbreviation on a card, representing a kiss. 

Over the years, X has become a short version for ‘Christ’ in Christmas . The letter X has recently been ‘hijacked’ once more by Mr Musk of Twitter, as its new name. 

I also notice that more and more of reporters refer to time by the 24-hour clock which confuses many who are used to the AM and PM form. So, before it gets more complicated, may I wish all your witty scribes and readers, a Happy Twittermas and a prosperous 24 past eight pm.

Sean Kelly,

Tramore, Co Waterford

Looking close to home

Speaking at University College Cork recently, former President Mary Robinson castigated US president Joe Biden for issuing more oil and gas licensing permits than Donald Trump.

Today, Ireland, without any natural gas storage, is scrambling to bridge an immediate shortage of over 600KW electricity generating capacity, leading to probable outages depending on demand and the vagaries of the weather over the coming winter, and will, bizarrely, be dependent on the compliance and good will of large private electricity customers to plug the gap in cases of emergency.

Mrs Robinson is aware no doubt that Ireland has about 5GW of installed onshore wind capacity which is notoriously unreliable and intermittently generates at best 30% of Ireland’s electricity. The remaining 70% is generated mainly by natural gas, 30% comes from the dwindling Corrib field and 70% is imported from Britain and across thousands of kilometres from Norway, with a huge carbon footprint.

At present and for the last week, because of the total absence of wind, all of Ireland’s electricity was generated by fossil fuels, coal, oil, natural gas, and imports.

The problem was compounded by the recent irresponsible decision by Transport Minister Eamon Ryan to go cap in hand and sign a long-term agreement with Britain to supply 100% of our natural gas supply.

Having fought for centuries to win our independence, the irony was lost on Mr Ryan as the Coalition is now happily handing over total control of our most vital energy supply to an increasingly dysfunctional and chaotic British political establishment.

It is beyond comprehension that the Government would choose this route while refusing to grant further licences to progress the Barryroe and Inishkea fields just off the coasts of Cork and Mayo. The Barryroe oil and gas field alone has independently proven 300m barrels of high-quality oil and copious quantities of low-carbon natural gas, which would ensure energy independence and security for decades to come.

Ireland’s energy policy has been long plagued by political expediency, incompetence, and U-turns, the latest being Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s inexplicable decision in 2023 to cease issuing prospecting licences off our coast.

Closer to home, it would be interesting to hear Mrs Robinson’s views on the Irish Government’s energy policy.

John Leahy

Wilton, Cork

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