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LAST UPDATE | 1 Nov 2021
US PRESIDENT JOE Biden has stressed that “none of us can escape the worst that’s yet to come if we don’t seize this moment,” as world leaders arrive in Glasgow this week for a major global climate summit.
Climate change is not a “hypothetical threat”, Biden said as he addressed the opening session of the UN climate summit COP26.
“Glasgow must be the kick-off of a decade of ambition and innovation to preserve our shared future,” the US President said.
“Climate change is already ravaging the world. It’s not hypothetical. It’s not a hypothetical threat. It is destroying people’s lives and livelihoods, and doing it every single day.”
He told the conference that his administration would commit to meeting a goal of reducing US admissions by 50% to 52% below 2005 levels by 2030.
He added this would “demonstrate to the world that the US is not only back at the table but will hopefully lead by the power of our example”.
Ireland, building on Paris
In Ireland, the government is set to discuss the revised Climate Action Plan this week.
The release of the plan is expected soon, with a Cabinet sub-committee due to consider it on Wednesday, the Taoiseach confirmed this morning.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin arrived in Glasgow alongside other leaders from around the world to attend COP26.
He met with a number of other leaders including US president Joe Biden, French president Emmanuel Macron and European Council president Charles Michel.
Tomorrow morning, Martin will attend a breakfast reception hosted by Boris Johnson and Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Speaking to reporters at the summit, Martin said the presence of a significant number of world leaders at COP26 is “evidence of a growing momentum” around climate action.
“To build on what was achieved in Paris, but really to create a momentum around action matching rhetoric in the immediate future,” the Taoiseach said.
He said it’s “absolutely imperative” for the future of a sustainable economy to now invest and create opportunities in renewables and retrofitting.
Ireland’s global climate finance will be more than doubled from its current level of €93 million per year to at least €225 million by 2025, he said.
The Cabinet sub-committee will meet on Wednesday and discuss the revised Climate Action Plan. The Taoiseach said he doesn’t want to “pre-empt the outcome” of this meeting which must be held before the plan can be put forward to the full Cabinet.
“It’s quite detailed so we want to make absolutely sure as we go through the detail that it stacks up,” Martin said.
He said the plan will provide “clear indicators to the sectors the steps that we’re talking about” in terms of reducing emissions.
Orla Dwyer / Twitter
Orla Dwyer / Twitter / Twitter
Speaking at the World Leaders Summit Action and Solidarity Event at COP26 this afternoon, the Taoiseach said climate justice must be at the centre of global efforts in climate action.
“Countries and communities struggling to cope already must have our support,” Martin said.
We must have the courage to take action now and collectively to secure a safe and sustainable planet for generations to come. We have a unique opportunity before us to step up our ambition and to turn the tide on climate change.
“That the narrative emerging from this conference will be one of hope, with a focus on solutions and what we can achieve when we work together.”
‘Coal, cars, cash and trees’
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was the first leader on the podium this morning, where he said that if we don’t get serious about climate change, it will be “too late” for future generations.
“We can get real on coal, cars, cash and trees,” he said.
“We have the technology to deactivate that ticking doomsday device. Not all at once, it’s too late for that, but one-by-one and with speed and efficiency.”
Brianna Fruean, an environmental activist for Samoa, a Polynesian island country, asked leaders to remember in their meeting rooms that the documents they draft are “more than just black and white objects”.
“In your words, you wield the weapons that can save us or sell us out,” Fruean said.
“If you’re here today, you know what climate change is doing to us. You don’t need my pain or my tears to know that we’re in a crisis. The real question is whether you have the will to do the right thing [and] to follow it up with long overdue action.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres gave countries a stark warning: “Failure is not an option, failure is a death sentence.”
“The science is clear, we know what to do,” Guterres said.
“We need maximum ambition from all countries on all fronts to make Glasgow a success,” he said.
“I urge developed countries and the emerging economies to build coalitions to create the financial and technological conditions to accelerate decarbonisation of the economy.”
Who’s there?
The effectiveness of the summit hinges on the participation of countries from around the world and the attendance or non-attendance of particular leaders can cause a stir.
US President Joe Biden arrived in Scotland today after flying on Air Force One from Rome, where he attended a G20 meeting over the weekend.
China’s President Xi Jinping is absent but is understood to be submitting a written statement.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attendance was confirmed last month after uncertainty over whether the right-wing politician would make the trip to Glasgow.
However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has cancelled his planned attendance, according to the Anadolu state news agency, which did not explain the decision.
Delegates, observers and journalists attending the event faced long queues to access the summit centre this morning, where the first of a two-day “World Leaders Summit” is taking place.
The Taoiseach is due to deliver Ireland’s statement to the summit tomorrow.
Over the next two weeks, countries will try to negotiate new climate commitments alongside a series of events examining specific climate topics.
Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan will lead the Irish delegation next week during the second half of the summit.
Outside the conference, climate activists will be on the streets to demand major action that meets the urgency of the climate crisis, including Sweden’s Greta Thunberg.
But corporations – often criticised for their role in the climate crisis – will also have a presence at the summit. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, for instance, will appear alongside the UK’s Prince Charles at an event discussing the environment in North Africa.
New Irish research published by TASC today outlines that on climate change, politicians do not have most of the public’s trust in Ireland.
Asked who to trust on issues of national importance like climate change, 51% of respondents said they would trust scientists, academics or researchers, followed by 43% who said they would trust family and friends.
Only 13% said they would trust in TDs and 12% for local councillors.
With reporting by Orla Dwyer, Zuzia Whelan, AFP and Press Association
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How much does the state make in taxes if 50million euros a week
is spent on alcohol?
I am sure it covers the 114million euros a year on treatments.
Yet a charity had to be set up in Crumlin for children with scoliosis because the government won’t pay for vital surgeries.
The lists are massive and as you grow do does your curve.
No child should ever end up like me . I have stage 1 respiratory failure. We hope we have reversed it with major surgery a month ago.
These kids rely on the goodness of the public donating money for their surgery.
Yet you take heroin and become an alcoholic you get help no problem.
Disgusted by this news.
Please check out http://www.straightaheadireland.ie
A top orthopaedic surgeon does these ops for free in his own time because he cares unlike our government.
I think I picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue.
If a small part of this money would be used to educate people for better eating and drinking culture, you won’t have addiction problems.
Besides, I don’t understand why my taxes are used for people who deliberately decide to waste their life, and I still have to pay 55 euro every time I bring my kids to the GP. Certainly my kids don’t decide to get sick.
Sorry an addiction isn’t caused by a culture or lack there of, you’re simplifying one of the more complex diseases people suffer from! There’s addicts in every walk of life, they differ in their vice but there’s no way to eliminate it through cultural changes!
⚠️⚠️⚠️Irish people are Bombarded with advertising for Alcohol. Every where, every street, town in country has these adds. Then there’s all the pubs. The supermarkets use it as lost leaders and advertise it all the time. Childern know all the brands of alcohol. So of course some people are going to have problems which need care and help. We don’t spend ENOUGH !⚠️
Let’s hope your k
Although we do have to address our relationship with alcohol in terms of our culture and the social acceptability of excessive drinking, alcohol/drugs/destructive behaviours etc are in many cases an attempt to cope with psychological or psychiatric issues. Think in terms of childhood trauma, recession, poverty, social inclusion and many other issues. Healthy eating is hardly going to deal with many of the problems we as a state have ignored.
The supermarkets and off licenses who sell so cheaply are the biggest contributors to the problem these days, they sell glass bottles too which are often drunk on the streets and then smashed on the pavements , very dangerous also Fairview Park full of cans every time we have fine weather , just thrown wherever its drunk , is it not illegal to drink on the streets and in the parks ?
I think that cash should be ringfenced and taken directly from the drinks industry, the polluter pays principle. Alcohol is so ingrained in our culture here, all over the world the image of the drunk Irishman is paraded, with Guinness as an institution. I’m not saying that’s the only image we portray as a nation but in my view the drinks industry push it as a victimless crime. The reason people drink is because it changes your perception of the world temporarily. If it’s the taste they want then why not non alcoholic beer. I’ve not seen people leave shops with a six pack of milk on a Friday night.
I believe we already pay more than enaugh for a good bottle of wine.
Why I should pay more to enjoy my wine? To support a minority who decided to get wasted by their own choice?
No, thanks.
I can guarantee you that not even 10% of this is spent on alcohol addiction services. It’s all being funnelled into the black hole of methadone supply.
“SinTaxes” more than cover any spending here.
Proudly Italian, I agree with you however, never underestimate the influence that media has over our young people.
Proudly Italian, there is a difference between growing up with table wine and large corporate buisnesses protraying alcohol and young people having fun and looking sexy after drinking all night, when the reality is very much different, and can be witnessed by doctors and nurses in every hospital around the country on the weekends. The world cup for instance showed people drinking during games when it is banned in stadiums in the premier leauge, why? Well that’s because the same corporate alchol giants were major backers of FIFA so they had the rules changed.
So what? Are you blaming the “bad guys large corporate taking advantage of the poor weak people?”
Are you serious? People don;t have a brain to think? Myself, yourself and most of the people who *don’t get drunk* on a regular basis (which is different from “who don’t drink”) are not affected or impacted by advertisment?
Seriously?
See, the difference is here. If you take a kid and you raise him up with the “ghost” if “alchool is bad”, guess what he’ll do once turn 18? On the other way, if you teach a kid, since he’s young, to drink responsibly, with moderation and *enjoy* wine/beer etc., I’m sure he won’t look forward to get drunk as soon as he can.
Simple as that. Yes, sometimes solutions can be much more simple the way we think….
Well, I didn’t mean “lack of culture” by all means, obviously. Sorry for misunderstanding.
Just saying beter use the money for prevention -in case- rather than cure.
If people deliberately choose to waste their life, feel free to do so. But not with my money.
Advertising? I grow up with the bottle of wine always on my table, since I was a kid. I believe I get drunk less than 5 times in last 40 years. And I enjoy wine and beer almost every day.
This is what I’m talking about.
Sorry for misunderstanding. Obviously, no offence intended here :-)
Money would be better spent on helping the sick, who no fault of their own are like that. We still have a shortage of nurses etc.
Adrienne, I am shocked but not surprised by your attitude towards addicts. Addiction to alcohol is classed as a disease by the WHO, is recognised as coming about as a result of genetic factors and both internal and external factors play a large part as well.
How many alcoholics deliberately chose to be what they are because it was a lifestyle choice?
Well, I’m “addicted” to smoke.
I started I was 27, though. If I never lighted up the first one, most likely I won’t be an “addicted” then.
No-one is my family smokes, anyway.
Where are the genetic factors?
People become addicted because they choose to do so. Either alchol, drugs, tobacco, gambling…
At least, it’s a psycological disease. And there’s eben a way out. By choice.
So, please, don’t use my money for that. Because a kid who born with whatever disease, doesn’t choose to do so.
Proudly, first of all are you saying that the World health Organization, the American Psychiatric Association and the worlds medical profession are all wrong in stating that addiction is a disease? ” Because a kid who born with whatever disease, doesn’t choose to do so.”
Secondly you actually answer your own question.
“Well, I’m “addicted” to smoke.
I started I was 27, though. If I never lighted up the first one, most likely I won’t be an “addicted” then.
No-one is my family smokes, anyway.
Where are the genetic factors?
People become addicted because they choose to do so. ”
First off your statement that people “choose” to do so is just totally..in fact I can’t even think of the words to describe it. If you never lighted up a cigarette you might not have been addicted however if you are genetically predisposed to addiction the chances of becoming addicted are far higher than if you didn’t have an addiction gene. Secondly it’s basic genetics that not all genes are passed on to all family members. They can skip a generation or even siblings. Hence one child can be an addict while another might not be.
Please educate a little bit better before you go around insulting other people who didn’t know that the first cigarette, the first drink, the first bet etc was going to ruin their lives and those around them. Ask any addict (including myself as a smoker) if we would have picked up or used our vice had we known that we would become addicted.
@ Brian ward. Well said!! So many people in our society believe addiction to alcohol, or whatever the case may be, is a life choice. Active addicts have little or no control over their drinking and even when in recovery face a daily battle to manage their disease. Societal Education is key on this topic!
Idiot!!
@proudly Italian
Who do you think pays for lung/heart and every other “smoke” related problems?
Who do you think pays for lung/heart and every other “smoke” related problems?
In 20/ 30 years time I think we will look back on how foolishly we dealt with addiction. It’s like our attitude toward sex abuse and the clergy – we have a long, long way to go!
Health Minister, Deputy Broughan asked for details of HSE spending on alcohol addiction prevention and treatment programmes.?
There is profit in addiction and sickness but none in health.
Talk about an upside down country,.
114 million is about half the cost of keeping non violent prisoners in prison in 2009.This figure does not include education, courses and medical treatment.
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