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Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue Alamy Stock Photo

McConalogue urged to tackle agriculture emissions as he prepares to co-host event with UAE

The agriculture minister will speak about food systems with the UAE’s undersecretary for food diversity.

A CLIMATE ACTIVIST has urged Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue to implement climate policies as the minister prepares to speak at an event on sustainable food systems that he is leading alongside the United Arab Emirates at COP28.

The Department of Agriculture has organised the event on Sunday with the United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Climate Change, where McConalogue will make a keynote address.

McConalogue is set to attend COP28, an international climate conference happening this year in Dubai, from Friday evening until Sunday.

The main purpose of the COPs is for countries to negotiate new decisions about driving down greenhouse gas emissions and defending the world against climate change, but on the sidelines, countries and organisations hold an array of events focused on different aspects of climate and the environment.

The UAE is hosting this year’s conference, drawing intense scrutiny over the country’s strong ties to the fossil fuel industry.

A side event at its pavilion on Sunday morning is titled “A Sustainable Food Systems Approach to Innovation for Climate Action”.

McConalogue will give a keynote address along with the UAE’s undersecretary for food diversity, Mohammed Mousa Alameeri, followed by a “discussion with Irish and Emirati participants in a fireside chat format [that] will explore food systems transformation and innovation for climate action”.

A description of the event said that “food systems are a key component of climate action and sustainable food systems transformation requires consideration of the system in its totality, including the entities, elements, institutions and people involved, and all outcomes – economic, political, environmental, health, and social”.

It said the event will focus on the “importance of sustainable food systems in climate action and specifically a systems approach to innovation for climate”, covering Ireland and the UAE’s “experiences in systems transformation”.

Our climate reporter Lauren Boland joined us on Monday from COP 28 to tell us what’s happening on the ground – what measures are being bashed out, and about Ireland’s involvement. Watch here or below.

The Journal / YouTube

Friends of the Earth chief executive Oisín Coghlan said this afternoon that it is “hard to know whether this is gaslighting or genuinely innovative collaboration”.

“We can all agree on ‘the importance of sustainable food systems in climate action’, but let’s be clear – Ireland does not yet have ‘experience in systems transformation’ when it comes to agriculture and food,” Coghlan said.

He said there is “no sign” that political and industry leaders have accepted a need to change the “export-led, intensive agriculture business model of the last decade or more”.

“The mere mention by the EPA that a sustainable food system includes people in rich countries reducing how much red meat they eat caused a furore and embarrassing back-tracking,” he said.

“So whatever Minister McConlague says at the event in Dubai, what really matters are the policies and measures he implements when he’s back in Dublin.” 

The UAE’s presidency has been marked by controversy.

On Monday, COP28 President Dr Sultan Al Jaber had to defend himself after being criticised for comments he made in an online forum with Mary Robinson in which he suggested there is no science to show that phasing out fossil fuels is necessary to achieve the world’s climate goals. 

As the UAE’s climate change envoy but also the head of the state oil company Adnoc, his appointment as president cast a shadow over the conference from the start.

In a statement to The Journal, the Department of Agriculture said that “in 2021, Ireland was one of the first countries to submit a national food system transformation pathway, Food Vision 2030, to the United Nations Food Systems Summit”.

“Since then, we have been promoting food systems transformation in Ireland and in our bilateral and multilateral engagements internationally, including support to the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, via an emphasis on sustainable food systems in Ireland’s development cooperation programme and engagement by Sustainable Food Systems Ireland with partner countries in Africa, Middle East and Asia to support them on their food systems transformation pathways.”

The department said Food Vision is “honest and upfront” about challenges “but crucially, it proposes solutions and charts a pathway to sustainability in all its dimensions”, adding implementation “is underway, with many of its actions commenced, including important work on environmental sustainability in the dairy and beef sectors”.

Elsewhere at COP28 today, negotiations are debating whether countries will be called on to phase out fossil fuels entirely or simply to “accelerate efforts” towards phasing out “unabated” fossil fuels.

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    Mute George Bowling
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    Apr 25th 2025, 2:24 PM

    They only give 40k for a 147 now? It was a 147k prize plus the top break prize over 20 years ago for a 147 in the worlds.

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    Mute Dixie
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    Apr 25th 2025, 2:41 PM

    @George Bowling: that’s because they happen much more regularly nowadays the same with 9 darters they happen every week now

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    Mute John Fagan
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    Apr 25th 2025, 2:43 PM

    @George Bowling: A 75 year old man in the crowd won €25’000 after his name was pulled out in the draw and he will get another €25’000 if someone else gets a maximum.

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    Mute George Bowling
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    Apr 25th 2025, 2:47 PM

    @Dixie: they’re a bit more frequent sure, but afaik there have never been more than 2 in any single crucible year. And back when they did give 147k I’m pretty sure if two or more players hit it in one tournament they had to split the prize between them. Just seems mad to reduce the prize, and by so much. Even if they kept it at 147k for optics all these years the prize would’ve fallen by about 50% in real terms due to inflation.

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    Mute p gert
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    Apr 25th 2025, 7:02 PM

    @George Bowling: Sure Hendry said he was going to the jacks earlier and 2 ’147s’ fell out of his pocket.

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    Mute Andrew Kenny
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    Apr 25th 2025, 3:39 PM

    Class. Well done Mark.

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    Mute Basildon Joe
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    Apr 25th 2025, 4:38 PM

    @Andrew Kenny: he is no ronnie that’s for sure.

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    CP
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    Mute CP
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    Apr 25th 2025, 6:39 PM

    @Basildon Joe: No, he is Mark sure, not Ronnie

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    Mute Fergus O'Donnell
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    Apr 25th 2025, 4:29 PM

    I did a 121 break once. I’d love to get a 147. Serious skill..

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    Mute Philip Gallagher
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    Apr 25th 2025, 4:27 PM

    Jackson Page hit twi 147s in the same match this year in the qualifiers. Qualifiers count as the tournament. He got a 147k bonus. If they get two in any of the 3 majors (UK, Masters, World) they get 147k.
    Well done Mark Allen

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    Mute Happy Harry
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    Apr 25th 2025, 11:17 PM

    I done a 147. Unfortunately it was on a golf course.

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    Mute Brian Dunne
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    Apr 25th 2025, 7:52 PM

    First man to get a 147 in all 3 triple crown events. Great achievement considering the players who haven’t done it.

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    Mute Quinny
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    Apr 25th 2025, 4:28 PM

    Well done Mark , I’m glad that you got well beaten.

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    Mute Paul Cullen
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    Apr 25th 2025, 11:19 PM

    I was on a for a 147 last week, but I missed the second red hahaha

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