Scientific evidence that climate change is due to human activity

I know this is now old news, but it is necessary news on Ireland's stance.

Speaking at the Paris Conference for Global Economic Governance, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Dick Roche, T.D. said that - "today's UN report means the scientific debate, economic debate and political debate have now converged - the next step must be to translate all the debates into action."

"With the publication of this report, the scientific evidence is now overwhelming that climate change is occurring and is due to human activity - primarily the way we produce and use energy.

"If the countries of the world do not immediately take steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the consequences will be irreversible - and possibly catastrophic - and it is the poorest countries of the world that are likely to be worst affected. The costs of inaction will be far greater than the cost of timely action now."

The Minister noted that speakers at the conference emphasised the role of the Kyoto Protocol flexible mechanisms, which allow developed countries to be ambitious in their own targets while also helping developing countries to employ environmentally friendly technologies in their emerging economies.

"It is absolutely essential for developing countries to grow their economies using the cleanest technologies. Otherwise, the gap between developed and developing countries will widen further and the global potential of these new technologies will not be maximised" - Minister Roche said.

"It is particularly important that the nations of the developed world do not focus only on the challenges that the reality of climate change poses for them - but that they must frame their policies against the reality that climate change can spell disaster for many developing nations."

The Minister also said that - "Ireland is playing and will continue to play its part in the international response to global warming. We have ratified the Kyoto Protocol and we will meet our target, using all of the available mechanisms - including domestic action, participation in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and support for projects in developing countries through the Protocol's flexible mechanisms.

"We have successfully decoupled our greenhouse emissions from economic growth and we are on course to meeting our 2012 greenhouse gas emission reduction target under the Kyoto Protocol through a combination of cost-effective measures.

"We strongly support the leadership provided by the EU on a new international agreement (to continue progress made under the Kyoto Protocol) to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions in the medium to longer-term (to 2020 and beyond)."

In conclusion, the Minister said he hoped - "that the world community will take heed of the findings of this report and would support the EU in seeking to find an early agreement on an effective solution to global warming. The science, economics and politics on climate change are converging and must urgently be converted into concerted global action."