climate leadership
I first became aware of the interconnectivity between people, nature and climate when I did an ecology course in secondary school, way back in 1979. What I loved about that course was that it was practical. It about getting out into nature, listening and learning from our teacher and one another, and collecting evidence that would help us understand more about the intricacies of beautiful world we live it.
Bottom up
As an activist, a politician and leader of the Green Party I have tried to live by these same principles when it comes to climate leadership. In my view, climate leadership is not about talking from the top down or telling people what they should or should not do.
Instead, it is about doing things from the bottom up. It is about listening, learning from one another, learning by doing, being open to accept help and support, and being willing to make mistakes as we work together to protect both nature and humanity.
Putting in the systems
As Minister and Government Leader I see that our job is all about putting in place the critical infrastructure and the systems that will make it easier for people to be able to make the climate choices that work for them and their community. How we work, how we power our economy, how we build and heat our homes, how we travel, how we farm or how we shop is dependent upon national climate vision and leadership.
Across my own departments, I am leading out on transformative change in renewable energy systems and energy security, in public transport, in putting in place better walking and cycling infrastructure, in improving the country’s digital connectivity and in helping to make Ireland a more circular and climate focused economy.
Ambition
Leadership is also about having ambition. I've consistently raised awareness about the urgency of addressing climate change in Ireland and globally and have been a vocal and long-time advocate for putting in place the Climate legislation and setting the ambitious and binding targets we now have for our major economic sectors.
International
Increasingly my focus has been on the leadership role that Ireland can play internationally in ensuring that the those most impacted by the destructive impacts of climate are protected and supported. A recent report by Oxfam lays the inequality of climate out starkly. Its analysis shows that the richest 1 percent of the world emit as much planet heating emissions as the five billion people who make up two-thirds of the world’s poorest people.
Countries with greater capacity and responsibility for emissions, like Ireland, have to take more ambitious action and at the same time support developing nations to make their green transition.
I will be going to COP28 in Dubai to advocate for the polluter pays principle, to ensure there is adequate and innovative funding to support the most vulnerable countries and states in the world, and to encourage greater access to renewable energy, particularly in the developing world, and Africa especially.