The Government is to provide additional funding for vulnerable countries feeling the brunt of global warming, including those living with the consequences of rising sea levels and extreme weather events.
Minister for Climate Action and Environment Denis Naughten said that on top of providing an additional €2.5 million this year to support international climate action, the Government also agreed "to support developing countries through sharing information and expertise around our Irish Aid programmes".
The Government will provide additional financial support to the Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The green fund and adaptation fund are key funding mechanisms of the UNFCCC providing financial assistance for climate mitigation and adaptation projects in developing countries.
Ireland has committed €175 million for international climate action over the 2016-2220 period.
Deputy Director of Trócaire Finola Finnan welcomed the announcement by Mr Naughten.
“Ireland should now outline a plan for how it will provide sustained and growing contribution to long-term climate finance - to contribute its fair share of the commitment made by the international community to provide $100 billion a year by 2020,” she added.
Increasing support for climate action in developing countries was an essential part of achieving the aims of the Paris Agreement on climate change, Ms Finan said.
“There is a point however beyond which adaptation to the impacts of climate change will not be possible.”
While in Bonn, she said Mr Naughten needed to demonstrate how Ireland would step up its action on reducing emissions, "which are currently rising and far off track for meeting our [PARIS]targets".
Japheth Muli from Trócaire Kenya said there were 25 million people currently in need of food aid in East Africa due to ongoing drought.
“Drought is not new to East Africa, but the gap between periods of drought is decreasing and the ability of the communities to bounce back is weakened. Women, children and the elderly are particularly affected.”
Fianna Fáil spokesperson on climate action and environment, Timmy Dooley said, however, Mr Naughten "should be embarrassed for arriving at COP23 after doing little or nothing to address Ireland's own emissions challenges".
“Offering money to low income countries that are suffering from the results of climate change is all well and good,” he added.
“But the fact remains: they are suffering because countries like Ireland are emitting dangerously high levels of emissions and are doing very little to reduce their carbon footprint.”
