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WE’RE HALFWAY THROUGH the COP26 summit in Glasgow which has brought together countries from across the world to discuss climate action.
Tens of thousands of people are in the Scottish city to take part in the annual UN conference on climate change.
Others are also in the city to take part in protests that have been ongoing throughout the week – the largest of which took place yesterday with thousands of people in attendance.
We’re still a week away from the conclusion of this COP summit, and the final outcome and deals reached will be the most important aspect.
But, for now, let’s take a look at what has happened so far.
Politics
The UK is hosting this year’s COP summit – and prime minister Boris Johnson was out in force pledging action on “coal, cars, cash and trees”.
Two of the first few days of the conference were focused on politics. World leaders spoke about their plans to cut emissions and deal with the impacts of climate change.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin was among the heads of government in attendance at the summit. Martin spoke about the wide-ranging benefits of climate action, even being accused by a reporter at one point of sounding like he was in the Green Party.
He responded that he would take this as a compliment. Martin’s attendance at COP also came right before the release of the government’s long-awaited revised Climate Action Plan on Thursday.
Environment Minister Eamon Ryan was due to attend the summit from today, but he cancelled the trip after testing positive for Covid-19.
Each country can deliver a national statement at COP26. In Ireland’s statement, the Taoiseach said the country “accepts” the “obligation” for richer countries to support nations most acutely impacted by climate change.
He also committed to at least doubling Ireland’s contribution to global climate finance from €93 million at the moment to at least €225 million by 2025.
This finance is a key sticking point at this conference. At the 2009 COP summit, richer countries made a pledge to provide $100 billion in climate funding for developing countries to help them adapt to climate change.
This target – which was due to be reached in 2020 – has not yet been met.
Conor O’Neill, Christian Aid Ireland’s policy and advocacy advisor said the increased investment from Ireland was welcome but “only half of our fair share”.
“Taking past emissions and wealth into account, Ireland should be contributing closer to €500 million a year in climate finance,” O’Neill said.
There were a lot of powerful, impactful speeches delivered by politicians and activists from across the world.
Kenyan climate activist Elizabeth Wathuti told world leaders: “Right now, as you sit comfortably here in this conference centre in Glasgow, over two million of my fellow Kenyans are facing climate-related starvation.
“This is not only happening in Kenya… and there is more still to come. By 2025, in just four years’ time, half of the world’s population will be facing water scarcity and by the time I’m 50, the climate crisis will have displaced 86 million people in sub-Saharan Africa alone.
“The decisions you make here will help determine whether the rains will return to our land. The decisions you make here will help determine whether the fruit trees we plant will live or perish.”
David Attenborough said: “We must use this opportunity to create a more equal world, and our motivation should not be fear, but hope.”
Greta Thunberg – who is in Glasgow at the moment – criticised world leaders for decades of “blah, blah, blah”.
Pledges and promises
A number of deals have been agreed so far at COP26.
Over 100 countries – including Ireland - signed a pledge to end deforestation by 2030.
In the declaration, leaders committed “to working collectively to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030 while delivering sustainable development and promoting an inclusive rural transformation”.
Later in the week Indonesia questioned the terms of the deal it had signed.
19 countries agreed to end fossil fuel funding overseas by the end of next year. However, this was criticised by many as not good enough when many countries like the US will continue to fund fossil fuel projects in their own countries.
Around 100 countries also reached a deal to cut methane emissions by 30% by 2030. Ireland also signed up to this pledge, but the Taoiseach said this week that the “specific manifestation” of this pledge will differ between countries.
Individual countries have “different challenges in that respect or produce methane at different levels in different sectors”, Martin said.
Around 90% of Ireland’s methane emissions come from agriculture.
The EU, the UK and the US struck a deal to give South Africa at least $8.5 billion (€7.3 billion) to help the country transition away from using coal. South Africa is heavily reliant on coal to generate electricity.
Inclusiveness
Greta Thunberg has shown up in the SEC centre where the COP26 conference is taking place on a couple of occasions, but she has mostly been outside the main proceedings at climate protests being held across the city.
Speaking after the Fridays for Future protest, Thunberg said: “It is not a secret that COP26 is a failure.”
She called the summit talks “a two-week long celebration of business as usual and ‘blah, blah, blah’”.
Earlier in the week on Twitter, the Swedish climate activist said this conference has been the most “excluding COP ever”, a key issue several people have pointed out about the summit.
“This is no longer a climate conference. This is a Global North greenwash festival,” Thunberg said.
There were issues with accessibility at the conference when the Israeli energy minister Karine Elharrar was unable to attend the summit in her wheelchair on Monday after security staff would not let her car through.
Boris Johnson apologised and Elharrar was able to attend events the next day.
To access the UN ‘blue zone’ where the main negotiations and COP26 proceedings are taking place, attendees need an accreditation badge which had to be applied for months in advance.
Members of civic society can attend the conference with ‘observer’ badges – but many people are attending events and protesting in other parts of the city.
Is the 1.5 degree target still within reach?
This is the real crux of the issue at hand – will all of the pledges, if carried out, keep the planet within 1.5 degrees of warming?
The Paris Agreement sets out a goal to keep global warming “well below” 2 degrees, preferably to 1.5 degrees. Science shows that degrees beyond this increase lead to more frequent extreme weather events.
This is especially pertinent for developing countries for whom it is more difficult to adapt to climate change, and small island developing nations who are at risk with rising sea levels.
Each country had to come to this conference with updated NDCs (nationally determined contributions). This is a key part of COP26.
These plans show how each country will slash emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. The EU submits NDCs for the entire bloc – including Ireland.
The UN said that the NDCs before this COP, if implemented, would result in around 2.7 degrees of warming by the end of this century.
Two major changes have occurred since this calculation was made: China said it plans to reach net-zero emissions by 2060 and India announced it would reach this goal of zero emissions by 2070.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) said if the pledges made so far were fully implemented, the global tempertature rise would hold at 1.8 degrees.
According to climate advisory company Climate Resource, implemented plans would result in the global temperature rise peaking at 1.9 degrees Celsius this century.
These estimates are significant as they are below the 2 degree figure, and each lower degree of warming means less frequent extreme weather events around the world.
As for the outcome of COP26, Irish environmental scientist Tara Shine said the narrative around the summit being a “last chance” to save humanity from the impacts of climate change is not true.
“This COP has to be a big enough step to allow countries to rally do more,” she said this week.
“A deal is a complicated thing. It’s going to be a trade-off of lots of separate agenda items.
Judging whether it’s a success at the end is going to be really difficult because you won’t be judging it on there’s an outcome or not, it’s going to be a whole lot more subtle than that.
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I get the feeling the reason there is such a high surge in tests is because the government have waived the fee to the GP so every Tom Dick and Harry are calling unnecessary to see if the have it. People need to wake up and leave the test for the people who really have the symptoms and need to be tested. Just because it’s free dosent mean you take it.
@Olivia Smith:
But aren’t people even more contagious before symptoms? While I appreciate the sheer volume of the tests required, if anybody who wanted a test could have one, maybe we could have even less transmission?
@Olivia Smith: every “tom dick and harry” might be ringing the doctor because it’s free, which i highly doubt, but it is the doctors call whether to refer people for testing or not, based on symptoms reported! So have a bit of cop on and a little less bitchy.
@Olivia Smith: I don’t think you can just rock up to the doc unless you meet the profile for testing. This means that the backlog is made up of people who are symptomatic which is worrying in itself. We definitely need to speed up the turnaround of testing in order to fight this. Best advice is to stay at home if possible and avoid other people.
@Olivia Smith: 80% of cases are mild, they need to be identified, quarantined, and contacts traced and isolated. Best to have a negative test than people go undiagnosed.
https://i.imgur.com/edjdYnJ.jpg
The more undiagnosed cases walking around the worse the epidemic.
Diagnosing only severe cases, at hospital, was the approach the UK proposed but it was abandoned after scientists at Imperial College London pointed out it would cause ~250,000 deaths.
@John O’Brien: You don’t rock up anywhere you call. And that’s the issue. Free call as sure I’ll do it just in case
@David Jordan: I have a family member waiting for a test. Was symptomatic since last Friday. Didn’t want to block up testing if wasn’t positive. Felt well again and then Tuesday woke up as bad as was Friday. Nobody who had a sniffle should make that call to the GP
@Marie Broomfield: No sorry I won’t have a bit more cop on. I have a family member showing more than 1 symptom since Friday a wks go. Didn’t want to ring the GP in case they took up time for someone who needed it. Felt better then woke up Tuesday as bad. Took all day Wednesday to get through to the GP and still waiting for a date for test. So I’d say you and the wasters need to COP on.?
@Mary Walshe: No as I said just because it’s free dosent mean you take it. If a shop was giving out free stuff and it was stuff you didn’t need would you take it because it was free?
@Olivia Smith: you don’t seem to understand that it is the doctor who refers people for the test. know you must be worried but so are alot of other people. if you;re family member has it, they have it, a test won’t change that. ring for an ambulance if you feel they are not doing well. I and my family are waiting for that call too, it’s been 4 days and we are mostly starting to feel better. i tried to cancel the test, not wanting to waste time or resources but couldn’t. Doc said it was important for other people that we get tested. Everyone is in the same boat! let’s try not to overturn it.
@Olivia Smith: Not wanting to “block up” testing is ridiculous.
@Marie Broomfield: Are you thick? I’m saying people can’t get through to GPs because of idiots taking up all their time talking to someone with a runny nose. So this makes it harder to get tested and brings testing times longer
@Darren Sheridan: Really? I think that’s a responsible way to think,
@Olivia Smith: The last guidance is anyone with symptoms should be tested if the doctor confirms they fit, so we can find the cases and trace them, and understand the spread. It’s up to a doctor to triage and determine if the sniffle is relevant. You making people feel bad for asking to be assessed doesn’t support the current action plan. An ignored sniffle could mean contacts may not be traced, contacts that could include one of the high risk individuals, or someone who gets the severe version. Let’s let them do their job as they need to, as they have been advised to by those better educated than most of us on how to deal with this, and put up with our wait. Anyone with severe issues can ring for further help, for an ambulance, etc.
@Olivia Smith: man you’re a nasty piece of work..you’re step on your granny to save yourself. I.hope they lose your number.
@Olivia Smith: A nice concerned person? With those words you’re disgusting.
@Olivia Smith: needs to be a bit more cop on in your household. Waiting 5 days before trying to get a test because they didn’t feel too bad is just an “I’m fine so that’s all that matters” attitude.
They will run out of tests quicker than they will run out of money to pay Ms. Doherty and her co workers their 2k per week while the rest of us now have to survive on 200 quid a week.
@Joe Davis: is it all down to
Money with you get a grip on yourself
@Joe Davis: So are you saying that everyone should receive 2k throughout this pandemic? Handy way to bankrupt a country. Glad you’re not in charge!
@Mike Daly: Well, it’s not “all” down to money but money is extremely extremely important in every aspect of the current crisis.
@Mike Daly: it’s just annoying that after working for 30 years solid and paying some amount of tax that its 200 a week and thats that. If you think its fair that no politican or majority in the public sector will not be down a penny well fair enough. I just don’t see any fairness in that.
@FartyTowels: why am I a dope.
@Joe Davis: If they don’t get paid the bucks nobody would want to be in politics and if you have no government you basically have no country. There is only something like 52 TD’s in comparison to millions of civilians. What do you expect? Your full salary every week. Don’t be silly now
@Joe Davis: always the tool!
@Joe Davis: Sure why not give the entire population their full salary while we’re at it! Country would be bankrupt in a week. It might not be much but it’s a hell of a lot more than you get in other countries. To be fair I can’t really fault the Government in how they have handled this whole situation.
@Joe Davis: Sure we might aswell pay the entire population their full salary while we’re at it! Country would be bankrupt in a week. It may not be much but it’s a hell of a lot more than you get in other countries. To be fair I can’t fault the Government in their response to this situation so far.
Will you run out of ventilators though Minister and will it be a case of doctors having to decide who does because of lack of ventilators?
@Block a Tron: and general PPE like masks and aprons will be in short supply globally, they are normally manufactured in china the country that brings you most things these days including the current virus.
@Block a Tron: my pharmacy has run out of Panadol. Many things will be in short supply.
@Block a Tron: Well if people stayed home like their being told to and adhere to social distancing then we might not run out of the essentials that people need to help them survive. Just stay away from public areas and do as we’re being asked. It’s for our own good.
@Gerkygirl: *they’re
@Block a Tron: They might just have to so let’s do our bit not to put them in that position!
@Chin Feeyin: Panadol can be got in most shops, I’m sure there is plenty of it around. These stories causes pains and results in more panic buying.
@Block a Tron: every country will run out of ventilators.
Just stay home people!!!
Failed to prepare even though they knew about the virus in December.
@FartyTowels: accurate.
My Aunt’s house partner is waiting since last Saturday for a test and she’s in her 70’s , living in Dublin
@Gigi Power: House partner????? Is that what they call it these days.?
@Cian: they are retired nuns. Thanks
8 days and counting for a test
@miju irl: In all fairness, if you are still here after 8 days and have the energy to post comments here, the chances are you actually don’t need the test at all whether you have the virus or not. Simply self isolate for 14 days and until you are 100% and leave the test to those who really need it.
@Luke Windak: people need it to do community tracing. But sure.
@Luke Windak: up until yesterday I was severely out of breath going up stairs.
With GPs not seeing people with respiratory symptoms it’s near impossible to get prescription. Luckily Leya health virtual GP sorted me yesterday with strong steroids and an inhaler to make it alot easier to breath.
But please do continue assuming you know enough to post a smart arsed comment about testing delays.
@Luke Windak: I’ve seen people suffering with it post daily vlogs. Tom Hanks tweeted about playing card games with his wife. What makes you think it would prevent someone from posting a comment?
@Luke Windak: Thanks Luke. Where did you get your medical degree again?
@miju irl: Take no notice of Luke, they’l always be the odd clown.
@Dermot Foley: Not if they were self isolating as soon as they got cold symptoms as per HSE guidance
@miju irl: sorry to hear that and it’s great u r feeling better now I wasn’t trying to come across as a pr*ck. Was only saying that if u r already feeling better and were self isolating since the start, getting tested now won’t really change much.
Having said all that, waiting 5 days is unacceptable as most people will either get better on their own or end up in hospital by that stage
It’s not good at all to be waiting 5 dates for a date not a mind a test. People are now simply requesting a referrals froms GP knowing it will be a week minimum until they tested so if they don’t have it now it will piece of know knowing a test is booked for future. It’s not good enough..
@Brian: unless you have serious symptoms does it really matter if you are tested straight away? If you have symptoms you are supposed to be self isolating anyway. If your symptoms becoming worrying while waiting for your test you can call 999
@Brian: a GP isn’t going to refer someone unless they fall into the category
@Sam Harms: the problem with the delay in testing isn’t with the person themselves, it’s the contact tracing. Myself and partner are waiting on tests since Monday, in the week to 10 days previous we visited family in Cork, had both been on separate nights out with friends, she had been to work and we both had been to several supermarkets.
That’s over a hundred people (if not more) we’ve been in contact with. Already all those people have been mixing as normal, or a limited amount with social distancing. Contact tracing only works if tests are carried out quickly. Otherwise they might as well not bother testing people and put the effort into hospitals and a complete lockdown nationwide
@Sam Harms: 80% of cases are mild, they need to be identified, quarantined, and contacts traced and isolated.
Diagnosing only severe cases, at hospital, was the approach the UK proposed but that was abandoned after scientists at Imperial College London pointed out it would cause ~250,000 deaths.
@Sam Harms: yes it matters because you could have been in contact with someone and they should know as soon as possible meanwhile you have self isolated but your contacts have not therefore possibly infecting more people
Men are dying worldwide much more than woman “Italian health authorities last week reported that among 13,882 cases of COVID-19 and 803 deaths between Feb. 21 and Mar. 12, men accounted for 58% of all cases and 72% of deaths. For woman findings strongly suggest that there’s something about estrogen that protects against the ravages of deadly coronaviruses” https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2020-03-21/why-is-the-coronavirus-more-deadly-for-men-than-for-women
@GO GREEN: normally female hormones scourge them for life, in this instance perhaps we get a slight advantage
@Emer Caffrey: Yes, the facts are clear for whatever reason, woman have a better chance of surviving this virus.
@GO GREEN: all deaths in under 40s in Italy have been men.
@GO GREEN: If it’s estrogen protecting women then the numbers for postmenopausal, but not elderly,female victims would also be higher, surely?
I wonder have they had any evidence yet of this?
WHEN DID THAT EVER TELL THE TRUTH, WOULDN’T BELIEVE A WORD OUT OF HER MOUTH
@Pauline Fedigan: call the doc, I think this one has a fever!
@Marie Broomfield: and her Caps Lock is stuck!
Okay so I understand why there is a delay in doing tests but why the massive delay in giving out the test results? I was tested last Tuesday and have still heard nothing back. It’s a little bit concerning that our health service is currently at probably the least busiest they have been in decades and they still cant get it together. What are they going to do when it actually gets busy.
@sally: Health service at their least busiest???? Right!
Are the streets being sprayed like in other countries?
Not even a hint of when Monaghan might get a testing centre. It’s a complete farce. Italy told us it was coming and we didn’t listen. Mental stuff.
I’m a doctor looking after cancer patients. I took ill last Thursday at work fever cough loss of taste and smell. Contacted HSE and went into self isolation. Still waiting to be tested. Nobody has contacted me
@Aktham Sharif: Get well soon!
If you have symptoms or suspect you have the virus, call HSE and they can get you tested as a priority.
In a perfect world we would test everyone, isolate the virus and it would be gone, but that’s not possible, so please don’t panic buy, horde masks or take tests for the craic, for the moment the focus is on finding the virus and isolating it and that means prioritizing people with symptoms first.
Be mindful of our limited resources and capacity. Don’t take or use anything you don’t need. Ask yourself, is it important I take up this medical facility and professionals time when we are over capacity? Sometimes the answer will be yes, but it doesn’t hurt to ask the question.
Check in on old and vulnerable.
I’m off to the bunker lads. Stay safe and I’ll see some of ye post apocalypse.
Yes everyone should be tested, but with a plan in place. If no symptoms register by text with name DOB and eircode. The system then process applications by alabethical or by age. The person sent a text with an appointment for their local test centre but bring photo ID. No ID no test.
have your say