{"id":23727,"date":"2021-10-31T12:43:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-31T16:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23727"},"modified":"2021-11-01T09:47:15","modified_gmt":"2021-11-01T13:47:15","slug":"martin-calls-climate-crisis-an-existential-threat-before-heading-to-glasgow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23727","title":{"rendered":"Martin Calls Climate Crisis An ‘Existential Threat’ Before Heading To Glasgow"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin (PA)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Miche\u00e1l Martin said there is no alternative facing the world but to deal with the climate change challenge \u201cquickly and urgently\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Taoiseach said it is \u201cabsolutely essential\u201d that every country plays its part in tackling climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As world leaders gather for the Cop26 global climate conference in Glasgow, Mr Martin described climate issues as an \u201cexistential threat\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI believe, through research technologies we can significantly improve our capacity to reduce emissions in agriculture, but also in transport, energy,\u201d Mr Martin said on Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEvery sector of our society will have to contribute to the reduction of emissions. But the the parallel side of that is, it will create opportunities, it will create jobs, it will create a healthier world, and a healthier country in Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe will transform, for example, active travel; we will take the fossil fuel-powered buses and cars off our streets. One of the big polluters in our streets is fossil fuel driven cars and buses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJust think of what it would be like, in any one of our cities or towns, if we can walk down without that sort of stuff coming out of exhaust pipes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think it would make make a transformation. Likewise, in terms of retrofitting of housing, over time, will make energy more efficient, healthier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut there\u2019s lots of opportunities on the green economy as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report on Sunday revealed that the Government\u2019s climate action plan includes a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the agriculture sector by between 22 per cent and 30 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Sunday Independent also reported that the climate action plan, to be published next week, includes a scheme to install 200 street electric charge vehicle points a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Martin said that while Ireland and the EU has made progress on reducing plastic use, there is more to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think other nations have significant contributions to make in respect of that,\u201d the Fianna F\u00e1il leader added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think Ireland and Europe has actually performed better on plastics in the last decade than other continents. But we need to do more in terms of the utilization of plastics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe should reduce our use of plastics more generally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOther materials are coming on stream to replace plastic. (Plastic) is entering into our food chain and waterways, oceans and so on. What\u2019s happening to plastic in our oceans is shocking and that is dangerous and unsafe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Martin said that US president Joe Biden\u2019s decision to rejoin the Paris Agreement gives a \u201cgood platform and safety net\u201d to the current Cop26.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said that a lot of progress has been made in the last 10 years, and is hopeful a positive outcome can be achieved at the international, climate change conference which began on Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cObviously, that depends on China\u2019s contribution to that and Russia\u2019s contribution also,\u201d Mr Martin added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think we\u2019re now in a better position at Cop26 than we would have been over a year ago, principally because the United States is signing up to this and it\u2019s creating a new momentum with the European Union to become even more ambitious in relation to our targets.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Martin is to take part in a world leader\u2019s summit action and solidarity event hosted by British prime minister Boris Johnson on Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Tuesday, he is to deliver Ireland\u2019s National Statement to the summit, setting out how Ireland is contributing to achievement of  the Paris Goals.<\/p>\n

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