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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.
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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Oh. Is he back from Qatar?
He might be but are his “advisors” not? I thought we were seriously overpaying advisors to give him ideas?
Four councils is enough for a country of this size.
* Dublin
* Leinster with Cavan and Monaghan
* Munster
* Connacht with Donegal
You’re from Dublin aren’t you :D
Ninth comment but the first on the topic of the article. Thank you!
No I’m from Cork.
Dublin’s the capital. Face it. Just under 1.3 million of the population live within the borders of that one tiny county, that’s over one quarter of the population in just one of our 26 counties.
* Dublin 1,270,000
* Leinster with Cavan and Monaghan 1,367,000
* Munster 1,246,000
* Connacht with Donegal 704,000
Why, in your opinion, c.walsh, would Dublin not deserve its own council given the population figures?
Well done, you did your home work!
Waterford city has already built many houses in Leinster despite being in Munster because the spillover from this city is into south kilkenny. Your proposal would work for some but certainly not for others.
Counties should not be used as administrative boundaries. Or at least not necessarily. There are quite a few places that have developed in a haphazard way because they are on the border of two or more counties. For example, a lot of the problems that Limerick City and Waterford City have, such as unemployment, disadvantage, crime, poor planning, etc., are caused by there being two or three different administrations with different plans governing what is effectively a single area. Counties are great for sporting rivalry, but not for good local governance.
Believe me, he wouldn’t want to hear my opinion!
Is he back? God it was starting to be a nice Friday.
here’s my opinion: Resign. You’re a disgrace. in the playground you’re a bully, in the D?il you’re a politician.
Do you know the Minister?
I hope Hogan is paying you Declan. You are defending one of the most hated ministers in the history of this state
Locally elected councils to take all decisions on all local issues, with power to set local taxes, for use in the local area, transparency and, accountability , council meetings to be open for all,
TDs only function should be to legislate, with no power over local issues!
council meetings are open to all and minutes legally published online and can requested.
That is the holy grail of Politics. It would make such a difference to this country if we had that.
I agree that decisions should be made locally. Personally I feel we have lost the skill of citizenship and we are suffering the consequences of having outsourced our decisions to politicians. Also, I doubt this is a genuine request from Phil as FG seem to want to move power more towards Corporations/Germany/US than toward local people. In relation to ‘setting local taxes’, I’m sure FG would refer you to the Home Tax.
I live in a town with around 10,000 people. I’m not sure what it costs to run the place, but I wonder could it function from the taxes collected for central government.
The money grabbers like Eamon, Enda & co won’t give up power easily. They’ve lied to get power and they’ll probably do worse to keep it.
Ha ha phil. Good one. When has this thick ever listen to the public. Probably only came up with this idea to give some friends a job on the committee.
Well he has asked!! So if you have someting to contribute, please do so!!!
Declan. Do you seriously think he is going to listen to what the people have to say?
I’d say you might be surprised Rob. This useless man might well be ruining all around him, but he hasn’t touched Kilkenny. He’s up for reforms once it doesn’t hurt his reelection..
More opinions from those around me; you’ve some cheek Phil getting home owners to pay for debt ridden local authorities! Do the house holders in Roscommon want to pay for the swanky new local authority offices? Is that you were doing in Dubai; looking for ideas for 7 star even swankier council offices for the home owner to pay for? When are you going to make planners and those found guilty of corruption in planning personally liable for their decisions? In our opinion you should resign. etc. etc. We may come back to you later with more opinions but we have to get on with work to pay for your luxury suites.
This country drives me around the bend. Some of ye moan and bitch that politicians make decisions without your input. Then one of the most hated Ministers hands the topic of reform open to the public, ye are all moaning and bitching even more. Even the WaterfordGivesAShirt campaign are all quiet – probably because there have been two major blows to their “PHIL IS EVIL!” campaign this week.
Some people clearly haven’t a clue, thinking that Council Meetings are held behind closed doors when anybody can attend or look at the minutes of meetings. They happen around the same time every bloody month and most local papers cover it all! Most people re-elect the same eejits they moan about.
Get informed. Get involved. Stop moaning online and running around with political agendas. Its simple and easy to do. This way, you can have more input and more demand as to how things are done in this country.
What,s the point
De penshins is de points. Phill de Bucket Hogan will be fine.
Shur isn’t Doll Airin’ onie a bleedin county coucil insertion point for de Troika siphon.
Dunno Mark, nor care.
Any more than I do about your attempted associations. Some of us out here have minds of our own(you’ll have forgotten that stage, if you ever reached it).
Does the Troika approve your efforts?No need to reply.
Nice to know I’m troubling your somnambulance.
There is every point. The public should have a say in how their neighbourhoods/towns/districts are run. They live in them after all. That way any issues or concerns can be addressed. In saying that, the only members of the public that should have a say or whose concerns should be addressed are those who have contributed to the local council by way of paying the “property tax”.
Soo, tootkeel..you advocate a return to property-qualified electoral enfranchisement?
It’s a simple case of “He who pays the piper calls the tune”. If you don’t want to or refuse to pay your way, it stands to reason that you have no say in how your neighbourhood/area is run. It’s that easy.
So if you are fortunate to inherit, you are home and dry, but if you are outside the political circles that divvy the jobs for the boys and end up disemployed, tough shyte.
Its that easy to be complacently smug.
Hang on…ill get my violin…nothing to do with inheriting. If you pay, you have your say. If you refuse to pay you have no say in how your area is managed. Very simple.
Keep on fiddling. Thats how most fortunes are accumulated. Mind the roof’s edge. Its near as simple as yourself and a gullotine blade.
If you have to resort to personal insults you have lost the argument. Why should you Damien, as I think its fair to assume a non contributer by choice have any say in how your area is run? You have no right to demand services if you are not willing to pay for the said services….that’s a huge part of the problem, the sense of entitlement, everything for free but someone else can pay
Tut tut tetchy..Toorkeee
You’re the one who introduced the fiddle, and threw out democratic equality.
I merely reminded that democracy, a la France, requires equality in its liberty, or licence of aristocratic power-pyramids of pivelige returns in pin-stripe guise.
Your monetised ideology is undemocratic. That is an insult.
Me tetchy, take a lot more than that my simian featured friend to bother me. Pay your way like a good citizen and stop being a burden on the working man…failing that buy a tent.
Tettttchy, toorkkeee…allow me quote your sweet wee self, rather than descend to your abusive reactionary level;
‘ If you have to resort to personal insults you have lost the argument.’
Oiche mhaith, ‘s lan ath leat.
Nah Mr Flinter, an insult is an attack on you as a person or your character. I didn’t do that, I summed you up from what I could read before me. I call it as I see it, I think the truth might have dented your ego slightly…..you have nothing of an argument to offer until you can contribute to society….keep leeching!
Quote:
‘..keep leeching..’
But thats not an insult?
Drop your Dustin mask, toorkee, and come say that publicly.
I’ll show you how working men meet ignorant insult from anonymous fascistic scabs.
Ouch…that little nerve ending is very sensitive, obviously the “leech” reference is quite apt judging by your response. Sure I’ll meet you, this eve if you like. Im at the Connacht V Biarritz, followed by a gallon of weisbier in the Christmas Market…ill shout you a beer, I won’t expect one back, if you won’t pay your taxes, how could I expect you to buy a round! Catch you later Leech….
A gallon, eh?
THAT explains the brain-damage.
Don’t forget your sash for the match. It will highlight your exclusive privilege Orange politics nicely.
Can Damien Flinter and toorkeel stop arguing now please? You are derailing the comments.
Thanks
Aoife
Gladly Aoife, I keep getting notifications about replies from Mr Flinter. As I have told him this is yesterday’s news.
No problem, Aoife…he doesn’t do rational argument anyway, just insult and ideological abuse. He cannot even defend his elitist wealth/property franchise premise. Probably because it is indefensable.
I had considered reporting him for abuse, but don’t like to allow bully tactics go unanswered(it only encourages the behaviour). No surprise he learned his thinking on the rugby pitch(hardly a ground of enlightenment thinking).
Can I request you monitor any response for facetious insult, and save me the trouble of rebuttal of such ignorance?
And feel free to pull me up should I be tempted to reciprocate in kind. Ta for the patience.
Guys – please let this be the last you both say on this topic. No replies needed.
Thanks
Aoife
Yeah, keep out of it. Let the councils deal with the potholes, housing allocations, and other assorted gombeen crap. Do us all a favour and stand up for this Country instead of being a banksters phoney debt collector.
Oh and if it’s not too much trouble do it from cold damp Leinster House or even Montrose.
In a word…
Emigrate.
Part 2 Nothing will change
Phil did not listen on the local service charge. Phil did not listen on the water charge. Phil did not listen on the septic tank charge. Phil did not listen on the budget. Does Phil happen to claim disability benefit for deafness? How stupid of me he can’t, cause he did not listen on getting rid of disability benefits either. So why does Phil think we believe that he will listen now? The only person on the island of Ireland who has said No more often than Phil & his buddies was Ian Paisley. One thing for Ian Paisley was at least he has scruples.
I can see what he sees in her. But he can’t be the only well paid git she’d get?
Watch out for the downgrade of the fire service in 2013 cheers Phil.
It’s all smoke and mirrors, deal with the senate first, Enda did promise after all HaHa, then move onto the councils.
I know what id like to say but I’d be banned from every site if I did ..
Have ya no ambition, Aisling?
Sure you’re no-one at all until you’ve been banned a few times.
Speak up and we’ll at least pretend we live in a democracy.
Is no one surprised that councillors are not voicing more opposition to 83 councils being cut. Loosing all those expenses, foreign travel, possibility of getting into dail eireann giving a family member their council seat. Is it possible that they are putting this country first or maybe they already know that these changes will never be introduced. Phil hogan wants your option, really does this sound like Phil hogan. could this be a time wasting exercise dragging these reforms on until the local elections. this committee has not one independent member all are insiders and have a vested interest in the status quo. that old saying comes to mind “don’t piss down my back and then tell me its raining”
This shite is nothing but spin to deflect from the ruinous budget.
This is what will happen in reality (as it has so many times before)
1. Minister comes out with this crap that he listens to the people and want to implement reform.
2. A committee is formed consisting of friends/relatives etc. whom will all be paid an “I’m on a committe” allowance.
3. The public send “the committee” their recommendations for reform
4. “The committee” retires to a 5 star hotel to discuss submitted recommendations (preferable in the Caribbean)
5. “The committee” decide that it will take at least 5 years before they will be in a position to make recommendations to the Minister
6. 3 weeks later another Minister announces a committee is to be set up to look at blah blah blah
7. Go back to step 2 above.
Well Phil, now you’re asking : 10% income tax/10% PRSI to fund national government – welfare, defense (fishery patrol etc) and central admin. All other taxes to be locally set, gathered and controlled. That would soon sort out spending priorities.
Also local social policy might be interesting – people who wanted to love in either the Middle Ages or the 21st century could gather together and exporting your religious schooling or abortion problems might only mean moving to the adjoining county.
I wonder do either (Hulk) Hogan or or indeed any politicians read the comments here?
I know the “Journal” & the comments have been mentioned on the Marian Finucane show, (more than once), just curious to know if they pay any attention to them or do they perceive the commentary by Joe & Josephine Public as a bunch of cranks venting about the utter incompetence of (over paid) politicians (supposedly) running our country (in to the ground).
Lets be honest! the contributions on here are not representative of the people as a whole!! Not even close! Just look at the polls on here for starters!! If this was the barometer for Ireland, SF would be the largest party in Ireland folowed by the ‘Can’t pay , Won’t pay’ brigade!!!! It is what it is… an online bar for people to moan..
No matter who puts in a good alternative, to the present system. It won’t be listened to, put on a shelf or dragged out over decades like other promised reforms by FF. Time for FG/Labour to go, citizens Revolution and sweeping reforms.
Thats nice Niall! I am sure his wife and children will love that comment!!! I assume you are referring to that pic published by the gutter press!!! Nice, very nice
Hogan, resign nobody needs you. You are Irelands number one bully.
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