Wallace attends UN convention on climate change
WITH Climate Change now occupying a space to the fore in the minds of world leaders, Wexford MEP Mick Wallace says he was surprised at how unwilling governments are to set aside their own self-interests to secure our environmental future.
Wallace made the comments after attending COP25 - the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change - in Madrid.
‘While we start off optimistic, what we are seeing happening more and more is that when people sit down to negotiate, their own national interests are prominent,’ he said. ‘Politicians and Governments have still really not got over that hurdle. I mean, as far I can see, that is true about every country, including Ireland. We are failing to do the right thing, because we are still making short-term decisions in our own interest, rather than making the better long-term decisions which are absolutely crucial for the environment.’
The Wellingtonbridge native was the only Irish MEP and one of only 16 MEPs who attended COP25, as a spokesperson for the left group GUE/NGL.
‘Certain elements of climate action and transitioning costs money,’ he said. ‘The countries of the developed world have the money but they are still reluctant to co-operate. Unless the global North is prepared to help the global South to achieve their ambitions, it is impossible for them.’
‘The South Africans were just pointing out to us that they are totally dependent on coal,’ he continued. ‘They have an incredible number of people working in coal mines. How do you transit to a cleaner form of energy? How do you find work for those people? How do we up-skill them, when they don’t have enough money to do so?’