Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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86. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will outline his Government's aims, goals and targets for the upcoming COP28 negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50291/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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COP28, the annual UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties, will take place in Dubai, from 30 November to 12 December. Mitigation of, and adaptation to, the impacts of climate change, climate finance for adaptation and mitigation, and Loss and Damage will be priorities for Ireland during the conference. While public finance remains key, other more innovative sources of finance must also be identifiedincluding from the fossil fuel sector in order to support the most vulnerable countries in mitigating and building resilience against climate change.

In particular, Ireland recognises the first Global Stocktake (GST), a process that will assess Parties’ collective progress towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and identify areas for future improvements, as the main focus for COP28. Ireland looks forward to continuing the ongoing work on the Mitigation Work Programme, the Global Goal on Adaptation and climate finance.

Ireland has been heavily engaged on Loss and Damage discussions since COP27, including through a shared seat on the Transitional Committee on Loss and Damage with Germany. The Transitional Committee has met intensively since March and after a difficult process, there is now a text on the table that is to be formally approved at COP28. Ireland and the EU encourage endorsement by all parties at COP28 of this text.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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87. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide an update on Ireland's position on the Loss and Damage Fund, which will be discussed at COP28; if Ireland will commit at least €500 million in new money, in the form of grants, to a Loss and Damage Fund at COP28; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50292/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Throughout this year, Ireland has been committed to delivering recommendations on a Loss and Damage fund that will serve the most vulnerable countries and communities. The Transitional Committee on Loss and Damage, on which Ireland was represented by the Department of Foreign Affairs, has met intensively since March. After a difficult process, there is now a text on the table that is to be formally approved at COP28. Ireland and the EU encourage endorsement by all parties at COP28 of this text.

This text provides details for a new fund, and funding arrangements to assist developing countries to respond to Loss and Damage. It includes a guaranteed allocation of resources for Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States. Ireland’s work on the Committee has been focused on delivering for vulnerable countries and communities and we are pleased to see these elements reflected in the text.

Ireland is firmly committed to mobilising further finance for Loss and Damage, including through this new Fund, pending formal agreement of the text at COP. We are working with our partners in the EU to coordinate in this regard. Any contribution by Ireland will be in grant-form.

More broadly, we are in the process of more than doubling Ireland’s climate finance, to reach at least €225 million per year to developing countries by 2025.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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88. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide an update on his engagement with his counterparts in the EU and other international governments ahead of the COP28 negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50294/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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COP28, the annual UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties, will take place in Dubai, from 30 November to 12 December. Ireland has worked intensively alongside our EU colleagues through active participation in EU expert groups in preparation for the COP28 negotiations. Through these expert groups, Ireland has fed into EU level negotiation priorities and will participate in several EU negotiation teams on various issues of importance to Ireland at COP28, including on funding to avert, minimise and address Loss and Damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change.

Following on from COP27, Ireland has shared a seat on the Transitional Committee on Loss and Damage with Germany. The Transitional Committee has met intensively since March and after a difficult process, there is now a text on the table that is to be formally approved at COP28. Ireland and the EU encourage endorsement by all parties at COP28 of this text.

I played an active role in the negotiations of the EU Environment Council Conclusions on COP28, including through the addition of language on innovative sources of climate finance. I have also attended several international climate change meetings in preparation for COP28, including during the week of the United Nations General Assembly, the Africa Climate Summit and Pre-COP28.

I have used these opportunities to hold a number of bilateral engagements including with UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell, a range of EU and international counterparts and with the COP28 President-Designate, Dr. Sultan al-Jaber. During my meeting with Dr. Sultan al-Jaber I highlighted mitigation of, and adaptation to, the impacts of climate change, climate finance for adaptation and mitigation, and Loss and Damage, as the main areas of priority for Ireland in advance of COP28. We agreed that making concrete progress on these issues is crucial for building climate resilience in developing countries and for delivering on the objectives of the Paris Agreement and the Glasgow Climate Pact.