Ireland facing climate disasters like Valencia yet 'political and public will' for action missing says Eamon Ryan
Ireland's climate minister hopes an agreement at COP29 will instill the will to take climate action back home
Ireland is facing climate disasters like those that killed hundreds of people in places like Valencia, North Carolina and Nepal yet the 'political and public will' for action is missing, says Eamon Ryan.
The State's climate and environment minister is chairing adaptation talks at COP29 alongside his counterpart from Costa Rica. Their aim is to get global agreement on measures to help countries reduce climate their vulnerabilities through efforts like enhancing climate information and building flood defences.
Speaking about Ireland specifically, Minister Ryan says we are missing the 'political and public will' for climate action. And that it's "probably the most important thing" when it comes to preparing for what the climate crisis has in store.
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He hopes a deal at COP29 will instill the will for action back home. His comments come as Irish party leaders faced off in a televised debate ahead of the upcoming election, with little focus on how the climate crisis will impact national security.
Minister Ryan said: "I heard something yesterday from one of our best climate scientists, [Peter Thorne] saying 'we've been lucky'.
"We've probably been hit bad in places like Midleton and elsewhere. We haven't actually had a really big hit.
"It's in our interest for these negotiations to succeed because if they don't, we will be just like... Valencia, like North Carolina, like Nepal that have all been really badly hit in recent months.
"That why it's important (COP29) - adaptation at home, everywhere - and getting this right at home and building support for climate action at home.
"It's what we need to do. It's probably the most important thing. That's the thing that's missing most - political and public will. And that's what I hope, if we get an agreement here, we might instill."
Minister Ryan spent Monday listening to the views of different countries on adaptation and on Tuesday will report back to the presidency on how those negotiations are going.
We will be bringing all the latest updates from the COP29 climate summit in Baku with support from Global Ireland. You can follow our environment correspondent on the ground @ShaunaReports on X/ @shaunacorr.bsky.social.
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