Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 13:

In page 15, line 40, after “State” to insert “or internationally”.

I do not believe the amendment is worded correctly and I am not happy with my own wording of it. Effectively, what I wanted to indicate was that the important thing when we think about greenhouse gas emissions is that we think about reducing them internationally and collectively. The greenhouse effect is around the whole planet and carbon emissions are, effectively, a global concern. I wanted to ensure we did not have a situation where we were bound to consider greenhouse gas emissions in terms of the investment in Ireland while not having to consider those factors for any investment from the fund that might take place abroad. This is what I was trying to get at. I do not want to suggest that the fund should be redirected to carbon offsets. That is why I am worried about the wording and that the amendment could be construed in that way with regard to the reduction of greenhouse gases in Ireland or internationally. I signal that I will come back with this amendment. It is important that we think about both reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the State and Ireland's contribution to greenhouse gas emissions overall internationally, which is a slightly different approach. I want to signal that point, although I have to move amendment No. 13 because it is the first amendment in the grouping.

Amendment No. 14 concerns allowing the fund to be used in a way to implement policies which will facilitate a just transition for workers and communities. There is a great opportunity, if we do this right, to not just see new investment but new investment that is done in a way that supports communities and workers around the necessary, urgent and speedy changes that need to be made across so many sectors.I am concerned that simply having a period of commercial focus may sometimes obscure the fact that we are, in some cases, looking to nurture a transition from sectors which are no longer compatible with a livable future, the workers within it and the communities around those industries. Some of that investment may not offer us an immediate, quick or obvious commercial return as the things that are already up and running. Sometimes, when an assets manager looks straight at the investment in the new opportunities and possibilities such as community start-ups or redirects of investment, he or she goes with the known or the established. However, the very nature of one of the goals and policies we have as a State is that just transition. That is why I feel it would be an important indicator to those who are managing these funds to think about just transition when they are making their decisions around the allocation of those funds. That might lead to better outcomes.

I could have, perhaps, worded amendment No. 15 differently. I may do so on Report Stage. I am talking about the principles of climate justice in this and that we are consistent when we are investing. When I think of climate justice, I am actually thinking about - and perhaps I should have worded it in this way - what we have in the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, that is, common but differentiated responsibilities and the fact that Ireland, as one of the countries with a greater record of emissions and as one of the wealthier countries, has a greater responsibility to deliver on climate action and to reduce our emissions.

There is another piece to climate justice, namely, the lack of investments we have seen in the climate transition that is needed for those countries adapting to the worst impacts of climate change which have done the least to cause it. It is important we do not end up with investments that, for example, add to the pressure on countries which have suffered the worst impacts of climate change despite having done the least to cause it. We have seen this time and time again whereby investments move problems and poor production to vulnerable countries. The problems are pushed aside and we add to the problems those countries face. That is not something we want to do. Climate justice ensures that we are trying to have a beneficial effect with our investments on climate and in tackling our collective global climate change obligations, which, under the Paris Agreement, are common but differentiated. We carry a slightly heavier responsibility. We must reflect that and ensure our investments are not just beneficial for Ireland but are globally beneficial in tackling climate change and in supporting countries which are seeking to adapt to its impacts. That would be part of the meaning of climate justice when we bring it through. Sadly, we sometimes have the situation whereby countries have nice policies at home but terrible policies in their investments overseas and that is not okay. Ultimately, when it comes to climate change, that is not going to keep our planet at a liveable temperature because it is not effective.

Amendment No. 16 seeks to amend section 21 to include a provision which would allow the infrastructure, climate and nature fund, ICN, to be used for the implementation of policies which aid the implementation and achievement of the United Nations sustainable development goals and its associated targets and indicators.

Amendment No. 17 is an optional definition. While I do not know if a definition is needed, this definition has been in other Government legislation and I thought to include it as an option.

Amendment No. 18 similarly seeks to insert a definition of a just transition. It is a term widely used internationally. A definition may or may not be needed in this regard, but we have presented a definition which has previously been proposed. As for the definition of a just transition which I am proposing here, we can either rely on the common definition of just transition and not include one within the Bill, which was the decision taken for the climate Act, or if we were to insert a definition, I suggest it should specify:

Bringing together workers and their trade unions, communities, employers and public representatives in social dialogue to develop, agree and drive the plans, policies and investments needed for a fast and fair transition to a low carbon economy and includes; the creation of sustainable employment and replacement jobs of equal quality based on the principles of decent work, the establishment of appropriate social supports and training, reskilling and enterprise programmes for workers and communities affected by the transition. The just transition process in Ireland may reflect and draw on the International Labour Organisation Guidelines on Just Transition.

That is a definition but I know it is not going to be accepted. I understand that. For me, it is important to read that definition because anybody who reads it can see that having sensible investments fits into that delivery and that kind of vision for just transition which has been outlined in that international, commonly-used definition.

Amendment No. 19 seeks to insert a definition of climate justice into the Bill and provides that:

Climate justice reflects the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change commitments on equity and “common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities” and requires that the decisions and actions taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to the effects of climate change should— (a) support the people who are most affected by climate change but who have done the least to cause it and are the least equipped to adapt to its effects, and

(b) safeguard the human rights of the most vulnerable persons.”.

Climate is in the title of this fund, as is nature, about which I actually have not spoken enough. I wish to indicate that I may come back to the nature piece, to what we define in nature and to look a bit about where Ireland sits under the biodiversity convention in that regard. When I talk about these definitions of just transition and climate justice, they may seem abstract or lofty, but they are as real as real can be. They are the substance of tackling climate change. They are almost a list of the things we need to think about. Climate change is not simply a maths exercise. Tackling climate change is something that requires deep thought and joined-up thinking. That is why those concepts of just transition and climate justice, whether or not the Minister of State likes the definitions I propose, need to be reflected in any fund that is purporting to be a fund intended to deliver on climate change. They are really important. As I said, Ireland led the negotiation on the sustainable development goals and we need to show a great strengthening of our seriousness in how we reflect and join up those sustainable development goals, which are a blueprint for development. They are not a charitable project on the side. They are about sustainable development. They are meant to be the pathway which we follow to development. Anything like this, which is a fund designed to be a part of the future development of the State, should be passing itself through the prism of the sustainable development goals as that blueprint for development, which Ireland championed at an international level and has signed up to.