the-global-island-irelands-foreign-policy

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OUR VALUES
Through our ratification of the UN
Framework Convention on Climate
Change, we are committed to playing
our role in reaching and implementing
global solutions to the climate
challenge. Through the Government’s
Framework on Sustainable
Development, Our Sustainable
Future, we strive to promote a
balance between the three pillars of
sustainable development – economic,
social and environmental.
Dry water body in Kiloso District, Tanzania
A Sustainable
World
Challenges posed by climate change,
population growth, management
of natural resources, and food,
water and energy security require
closer cooperation at national, EU
and international levels if we are
to prevent them from becoming
drivers of insecurity and obstacles
to development.
Climate change is a global
environmental, development and
security challenge. It acts as a
catalyst, exacerbating tensions over
land, water, food and energy prices
and creating migratory pressures
and threatening food and nutrition
security and public health. It will play
a significant role in shaping the future
security environment.
Ireland and the EU are committed to
an effective, long-term global response.
An EU Framework on Climate and
Energy for 2030 includes a target to
cut EU greenhouse gas emissions by at
least 40% by 2030 compared to 1990
levels. This level of ambition underlines
the important role the EU is playing
in shaping the global climate change
agreement due to be concluded at a
UN climate conference in Paris in 2015.
Because it affects poorest communities
most, climate change is a priority in
our international development policy.
We will press for climate change to be
addressed in an integrated manner in
the post 2015 development framework.
We will maintain our engagement as a
party to the UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol
and strive to meet our obligations
arising from them. We will work
constructively for an agreement in 2015
that will strengthen the international
response to climate change, and
establish a comprehensive and
effective course of action consistent
with the ultimate objective set out in
Article 2 of the 1992 Convention. Former
President Mary Robinson will play a
role in preparing for this conference
as the UN Secretary General’s Special
Envoy for Climate Change. We are
also supporting natural resource
management, as well as supporting
developing countries to conserve and
promote biodiversity and to strengthen
resilience against climate change.
Tensions and conflicts over access to
water and other resources are likely to
become more frequent over the next
decade with the potential to have a
direct bearing on European policy and
interests, and on international peace
and security.
Irene Mosoboya, a carer with CHOICE, a South African NGO funded by Irish Aid, giving horticulture advice
to HIV patient Betty. Photo: Irish Aid
Food security - ensuring enough
nutritious food to feed a growing
world population and making more
efficient and more sustainable use of
the world’s natural resources is a key
challenge in the global policy agenda.
It is central to Ireland’s International
Development Policy, which prioritises
action to reduce hunger and
undernutrition sustainably.