Irish President says climate action hasn’t been at ‘speed or scale required’
By Claudia Savage, Press Association
Irish President Catherine Connolly has said “transformative action” to tackle climate change has “not happened at the speed or scale required”.
Speaking at the opening of the Bord Bia Bloom horticultural festival, Connolly cited emissions targets and said Ireland cannot “continue with business as usual” on the level of food imports.
The President viewed a garden to celebrate Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union, featuring a tree to represent each member state.
She also stopped to take pictures and speak with members of the public on the 20th anniversary of the 70-acre festival site in Phoenix Park in Dublin.
Other attractions at the site this year include health-focused gardens exploring mental health care and cancer awareness and a garden highlighting the benefits of organic farming.
Speaking to some of those gathered at the festival on Thursday, the President said the event “offers us the opportunity to reflect” and she considers her role as patron “a very special privilege”.
The President praised the gardens focused on sustainability and actions taken to limit the carbon output of the festival itself.
“All of these initiatives are very welcome, and they are an essential part of the solution, given the existential threat posed by climate change, which in itself, of course, is inextricably linked to our relationship as a species with nature, with the land, and with our environment,” she said.
She added: “It’s the seventh anniversary of Ireland’s declaration of a climate and biodiversity emergency back in May 2019.
“That declaration was accompanied by a firm commitment to take transformative action.
“In those seven years, however, despite very positive initiatives, this transformative action has not happened at the speed or scale required.
“Just yesterday we had the latest report from the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) highlighting that Ireland will most likely fail to meet even half of its 51% emission reduction by 2030.”
She continued: “Central to any action on climate change, of course, is food security and sustainability.
“Ireland continues to import and the figures are absolutely stark.
“Ireland continues to import approximately 83% of all fruit and vegetables consumed, while we export approximately 90% of the food produced in the country. Clearly, we cannot continue with business as usual.
“Fortunately, individuals and communities are to the forefront in recognising this, and so is this festival.”
She added: “Indeed, the initiatives on display here at this festival, some of which I’ve seen, and I’m looking forward to seeing more, and the fantastic work taken by communities, individuals all around the country, are an absolute source of inspiration and hope to me as President of Ireland.”
Last week, the President attended the Chelsea Flower Show as part of her first official visit to England.
