Climate Change is not an abstract concept but has serious and damaging consequences

To borrow the words of UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, “Climate change is the defining challenge of our time.” How we tackle it now will have far-reaching implications for future generations. The recent floods in Ireland provided us with a sharp reminder that climate change is not an abstract concept but has serious and damaging consequences.

Leaders from over 130 countries have gathered today in Copenhagen for the final day of the UN climate change conference. After two weeks of marathon talks, everything now hangs in the balance. A lot has been thrown into the mix in the past fortnight in the Danish capital from walk-outs, rows, violent street protests to hopes being raised and dashed. It appears as if a sense of uncertainty has been the only constant in these talks. Given the highly charged atmosphere both within the conference and in the city itself, it would be impossible, at this stage, to pre-empt any outcome or agreement. According to the latest reports, there is some division over a draft text outlining a target of limiting global warming to a maximum 2C and a new annual fund of $100bn-to assist developing nations. It looks as if the talks will go down to the wire. I remain hopeful that the key players will come together in time to reach a meaningful agreement with real commitments. However, a bad agreement for the sake of an agreement would be the worst of all outcomes.

Seán Fleming is a TD for Laois-Offaly and Chairman of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Environment.

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