Mary Robinson: Ireland no longer a ‘laggard’ on climate change

Ms Robinson, a former president of Ireland and chairwoman of international non-governmental organisation The Elders, said on Tuesday that the country is no longer a “laggard” when it comes to climate change, but there is still plenty of work to be done.

“Ireland has gone from being a laggard,” she said. “But now we need to see the actual plan, the steps, and that does need not just the Government’s leadership but Government and opposition leadership.”

“It needs every county and city to be part of this.”

The UN report warned that temperature rises will continue until mid-century – and that without fast, deep reductions in greenhouse gases they will, over the course of the 21st century, exceed both the 1.5C and 2C limits set by countries in the Paris climate treaty.

Ireland recently passed a Climate Act, which commits the Government to reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, and to cutting emissions by 50% in the next nine years.

The Government will also publish a Climate Action Plan, setting out how it will reach the targets.

Ms Robinson said this year’s Cop26 summit will be a crucial moment for the future of the planet.

“We have this Cop26 coming up in Glasgow at the beginning of November, the most important conference of my lifetime,” she said.

“We have to have governments step up now and take the decisions,” she told RTÉ radio.

The former president had strong words for the Australian government and its attitude towards climate change, which she said has “disgracefully not been stepping up as a rich country”.

She added that the US and China both need to work together to take measures to curb global warming.

She said the next 10 years will determine the planet’s future.

“It’s a challenge, but it’s also an opportunity,” she said.