John Gormley

Negotiations are continuing here in Bali as the deadline for agreement on a roadmap to a new climate change deal approaches. There is no official cut-off, but we need to reach an agreement by the early hours of Saturday morning.

As to be expected this is painstakingly slow, but the bottom line for me is that we simply need a Bali roadmap if we are to stand a chance of getting a climate change deal for 2012.

The main stumbling block remains the issue of whether the agreement contains wording that developed nations must reduce greenhouse gas emissions by between 25 per cent and 40 per cent.

A small number of powerful countries, including the United States and Canada, are resistant to this. The European Union group, of which Ireland is a member, wants to see such a commitment in the roadmap.

The reason we have taken this position is that this is the figure identified by the report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change as being necessary if the world is to stabilise greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere by 2020, and thus avoid potentially catastrophic climate change.

The conference here in Bali is about much more than this point.

We need a comprehensive agreement that delivers on the building blocks for four key areas; mitigation, adaptation, technology transfer and financing. I know this sounds somewhat complicated, but it’s important. These four blocks are all essentials for a workable deal.

Mitigation, that is what commitments countries need take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, is of course an absolute must in any post-Kyoto deal.

Adaptation to unavoidable climate change is vital, especially for countries and areas most vulnerable to its effects, like the major river delta areas.

Technology transfer, in terms of developing alternative technologies to reduce energy demand, developing renewable energy sources, and even sequestering carbon dioxide, is essential too.

And none can take place without financing measures in place, to put a price on carbon, and ensure that money is directed to the areas where it is needed.

Despite the slowness of the process, I remain optimistic. At our daily meeting of EU ministers this morning, the mood remained determined and positive.

Today I met Reinhard Butikofer, who is the chairman of the German Green Party, and he shared my optimism. We simply cannot fail here in Bali.

Meanwhile the international names have arrived in Bali today, and are the centre of media attention. Al Gore spoke at the conference to a packed hall yesterday evening, while New York mayor Mike Bloomberg also gave a talk. I think the attendance of people like Al Gore and Mike Bloomberg is hugely important. It brings a strong focus on what we are trying to achieve here in Bali.

The work here in Bali is set to intensify tomorrow as our deadline for agreement draws close.

The work of the politicians is now under way in earnest at the UN climate change conference in Bali. Today the discussions and debate about climate change moved from behind-the-scenes working groups and into the political arena with the arrival of the ministers, heads of state and political leaders.

With the horrific bombing of UN offices in Algiers yesterday, and the start of political talks, security has been increased even further in Nusa Dua, where the conference is taking place.

My day began with a co-ordination meeting of EU ministers at 8.30am. This provides an opportunity for the Portuguese team, which is leading the talks on behalf of the EU Presidency, to brief us on the state of the discussions. The scale of the task before us – getting agreement on a roadmap for a new international deal on climate change – was clear from what we heard. In the EU, we have adopted a common and consistent approach, which is that a successful outcome at Bali is absolutely vital if we are to get a new deal on climate change in 2009.

Bali, if successful, will deliver the foundation for that deal. It will define the parameters of the deal, and the way in which it will be reached and it will ensure that all countries will play their part.

In the last 24 hours or so, resistance to the proposed agreement has increased among a small number of developed countries, especially towards one element of the proposed Bali agreement. That proposal is that the developed nations will commit in principle to a reduction of between 25 per cent to 40 per cent cut in emissions. The opposing countries claim a commitment like this cannot be made in advance of the detailed discussions to follow Bali.

I fundamentally disagree, as do my EU counterparts. Developed nations like Ireland have contributed most to the problem of climate change in terms of emissions. And if there is to be any chance of a successful world agreement involving large developing countries like China and India, then developed countries must prove the extent of their commitment to tackling climate change.

The formal “high level” session began shortly after 10am. It is called “high level” because it involves ministers and political leader.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was the first to speak and he told us that global warming was “the moral challenge of our generation.”

Australia’s new prime minister Kevin Rudd also spoke and he received a loud round of applause when he informed us that he had just signed the Kyoto Treaty, reversing the long-standing Australian policy.

But of all the speakers yesterday morning, I was most impressed by Yvo de Boer, the executive secretary to the UNFCCC, the UN body charged with brokering the new climate change deal. I was struck by his comparison of the lack of action by some governments on tackling climate change with the preparation by the military in those very same countries for conflict caused by the effects of climate change, like fertile land and water shortages.

I was also struck by the video presentation by Professor Rajendra Pachauri, the head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Dr Pachauri is still in Oslo collecting the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the IPCC. However few in the conference hall who watched this genial soft-spoken scientist’s calm presentation of the compelling evidence of climate change could be under any illusion that reductions, starting with the developed nations, have to be made if the worst effects of climate change are to be avoided.

For me today was also an important one, as I had the opportunity to speak at the session on behalf of Ireland. I could do little more than echo what those this morning have said: that climate change is real, that we have a small window of opportunity to tackle it, and that we developed nations have a moral obligation as the worst polluters to lead the way on emissions reductions.

Of course tackling climate change also provides enormous opportunities for our economies to become much more efficient and technologically advanced.

However there is an overriding moral imperative here. We owe it to the tens of millions of people, many yet unborn, who face serious disruption at best, and famine, disease and displacement at worst, because of climate change.
If developed nations fail to deliver an agreement where we make the large cuts, we will be judged harshly by future generations.

Here is the speech I delivered today to heads of state and ministers from around the world.

It has been another good day here at the UN Climate Change Conference. As I said yesterday, the aim of the conference is to reach international consensus on a road map to a new world agreement on climate change.

Although from some of the reaction to my blog, there appears to be more comment on my attire, that is to say, the sandals I was pictured wearing yesterday. I can assure those who have concerns about my sartorial decisions, that I will be ‘suited and booted’ from first thing tomorrow, when the official political discussions begin. And I can also assure you I haven’t been letting the side down on the dress front. So far the dress code has been informal, and for a good reason: making sure that the air conditioning is kept to a minimum! It is 28° in Bali today, with humidity approaching 90%.

To date the detailed work at the conference has been carried out by officials in what are called working groups. But the jackets and ties return tomorrow when the ministers and political leaders become directly involved. It has meant that I have not become personally involved in official discussions yet. That begins tomorrow.

So today I took the opportunity to meet the Irish voluntary organisations and charities (NGOs) who are also attending the conference. NGOs have played a vital role in the evolution of international climate change and environmental policy. Irish NGOs have a strong presence here in Bali. They include Niamh Garvey of Trocaire, Mark Ruttledge of Feasta, Pat Finnegan of Grian, Fr Sean McDonagh of the Columban Missionaries, and Declan Murphy from the Ecology Foundation.

I know many of the above personally and I have huge admiration for their work on and commitment to tackling climate change. I found the meeting extremely useful to have a wide ranging discussion on many of the subjects at the core of the climate change agenda for Ireland.

Issues of primary concern which they outlined to me include what Ireland will do in terms of reduction carbon emissions post-Kyoto. The development agenda, and how developing countries can be assisted rather than hindered by any climate change deal, was also a priority. Almost all of the NGOs also highlighted to me the issue of climate change awareness in Ireland, and the need to do much more to heighten awareness about it, and what individuals, business and communities can and should be doing.

We will of course be rolling out our awareness campaign early next year, and I am hopeful that the Irish NGOs will have an essential role in this.

I also met representatives of Greenpeace today. The campaign group is probably best known for their campaign against nuclear energy, but Greenpeace has a much wider agenda than that. They were particularly keen to talk to myself and the officials from the Department of the Environment about our proposed new minimum energy efficiency standards for light bulbs, which will see the end to the use of traditional light bulbs.

I announced plans for this at the Carbon Budget last week. It will be implemented in 2009 and will hopefully result in savings of more than 700,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year.

The replacement bulbs such as CFLs and LEDs, may be more expensive, but even in the short term the measure will result in people actually saving money through lower electricity bills and the longer life of new technology bulbs. All-told householders could save in excess of €185 million in reduced electricity bills every year.

Greetings from Bali.

Bali is one of larger islands among the thousands that make up Indonesia. And from the little I have seen of it since I arrived yesterday evening, it is truly beautiful. It is one of the most popular tourist resorts in South East Asia and it is easy to understand why so many tourists flock here. Unfortunately I will have very little time on this trip to see much of the island. Having seen and heard the weather reports in Ireland in recent days, I know there will be little sympathy for me having to work for the duration of my stay on this tropical island paradise. However I am, along with counterparts from around the world, here in Bali for a very, very important reason.

Bali is playing host to a major UN conference on climate change, arguably one of the most important meetings on the subject to have ever taken place. I’m one of more than 200 ministers and prime ministers who will attend the conference over the next five days. And I am very glad, indeed honoured, to be representing Ireland at this conference.

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The last MRBI poll, which had us dropping to 4%, appeared on the day of our 25th anniversary celebration. In my speech that evening I joked that the result was a ’statistical blip’. That seemed to cheer up the party members. If I had the opportunity to address party members again I’d say exactly the same thing. These poll results are for the birds. Yes, we’re doing okay and getting a positive response, but we have not doubled our vote. Realistically, I’d say we’re around 6% nationally, and if we can maintain that sort of percentage we’ll make gains.

Our good poll results have irritated the PDs. Michael Mc had a go at us on Pat Kenny this morning. He claimed on three occasions that we wished to increase corporation tax. Not true, as it happens, but then facts aren’t Michael’s strong point. Later, he issued another attack, to which I responded.

We had some good launches lately. Our primary health care launch last week in Drogheda was successful. On Tuesday I went to Eamon Ryan with an idea for a launch today on climate change. I recommended a slogan “It’s time to act”. Eamon immediately organised a banner and a post card. We launched today on the Millennium bridge to coincide with the IPCC report.

– Minister resorting to misinformation to restore his party’s sagging reputation

The Green Party has accused Michael McDowell of looking through the wrong end of the telescope when it comes to the environment and the economy, and deliberately misrepresenting the party’s position on taxation.

Reacting to comments made by a clearly rattled Tánaiste on the Pat Kenny radio show today, Green Party Chairman John Gormley TD said: “Michael McDowell needs to catch up with the rest of the world in realising that protecting the environment is a prerequisite for a functioning economy. The Stern Report is the latest illustration that economists now accept that preventing environmental damage is less costly than repairing it, and that ignoring climate change and other environmental problems is a sure path to economic disaster. The latest poll results show that the Irish people are also accepting this message, and that they will punish the Progressive Democrats if they continue in this mode of denial.

“As the PDs have been part of a government with an appalling environmental record for the past decade, it may be too late for a convincing road-to-Damascus type conversion, but it must be of some concern to the party that their leader lags behind even George Bush on this issue.

“Minister McDowell should concentrate on getting his own house in order before attacking the Green Party. He must now realise that his unequivocal support for the Taoiseach during the payments crisis has undermined public confidence in the role of the PDs,” concluded Deputy Gormley.

Green Party Finance spokesperson Dan Boyle TD added: “During his radio interview the Tánaiste stated on three occasions that the Green Party favours an increase in the rate of Corporation Tax. It seems that the Tánaiste is now resorting to misinformation to restore his and his party’s sagging reputation. Minister McDowell should be aware that the Green Party at its National Convention last year approved the ‘Taxing Smarter’ policy document, which I wrote, and which clearly states that at the forthcoming General Election the party will be campaigning on a platform of NOT changing the rate of Corporation Tax or the rates of PAYE taxation.”

I see from the front of today’s Guardian that Tony Blair is a spot of bother with environmental groups about his long haul flights. Tony likes to holiday in exotic locations at the homes of his friends, like Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees and that well known socialist, Silvio Berlusconi. Air travel contributes hugely to global warming – despite what Michael O’Leary tells you – and environmental NGOs believe politicians should lead by example. Tony doesn’t agree. He says science will somehow find a way to reduce carbon emissions caused by air travel. In the meantime, we should all continue to fly as usual. I’m not sure what Tony Blair has in mind, but zero emission or even low emission flying is a long way off. It’s an example of head in the sand politics.

At least, however, the issue is being debated in Britain. Here in Ireland, we don’t even examine how our politicians get to and from the Dáil. The overfull ‘temporary’ car park on Leinster Lawn reveals that the preferred mode of transport for most TDs is still the car. The idea that TDs would reduce their flying miles would be greeted with howls of laughter – by TDs. Free travel, after all, is one of the perks of the job. Personally, I wouldn’t care less if I never set foot in a plane again. Flying is now one of the most unpleasant and stressful experiences. The glorified cattle mart that is Dublin airport is a place I will visit only out of necessity .

At the moment I allow myself one long haul flight a year for political purposes. But even I have to admit that some conferences are avoidable and the work could be completed just as easily through phone conferencing.

My colleague Eamon Ryan TD is posting updates from the UN climate change conference on his new blog. His latest post is “Who will join the battle? - recommended reading.

451. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the way Irish aid policy takes into account issues surrounding climate change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34530/06]

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