Ireland will have no Government Minister at the inaugural international conference aimed at ending fossil fuel use despite being one of the earliest signatories to the plan.
The Conference on Transitioning Away From Fossil Fuels begins in Colombia on Friday but Minister for Climate Darragh O’Brien will not attend.
Ireland will be represented by three officials from his department instead.
A spokesman said Ireland was “strongly supportive” of the conference and was “proud” to be one of 24 signatories to the Belém Declaration drawn up at the UN climate summit in Brazil last November to call for such an event.
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“On this occasion, it was not possible for the Minister to attend the conference,” the spokesman said.
Despite his absence, climate campaigners have said the Government must use the occasion to show its commitment to the Belém Declaration.
“We have yet to see Government policies and priorities translate such international commitments into necessary domestic action,” said Sinéad Loughran, climate justice policy adviser with Trócaire, who is attending the conference in Santa Marta city.
Delegations from 61 countries are taking part in what the organisers – Colombia and the Netherlands – have described as a “coalition of the willing”.
It contrasts with UN climate summits, or Cops, which include all countries whether or not they are willing to forge ahead with moving away from fossil fuels.
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Cop agreements must be by consensus, which means only vague ambitions around fossil fuel phase-out have made it into formal documents.
The Santa Marta conference aims to devise a practical roadmap for countries to follow in facing down powerful oil and gas lobbies, weaning their economies off fossil fuels and rapidly replacing them with renewables.
While renewable energy is increasing worldwide, it is not keeping pace with rising demand for energy which is still mostly supplied by oil and gas.
Trócaire is making seven demands of the Irish Government, with a commitment to step back from new fossil fuel infrastructure topping the list. That would require a U-turn on the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal and storage facilities planned for the Shannon Estuary.
Another demand is for an end to fossil fuel subsidies such as the fuel tax exemptions, rebates and reliefs given to hauliers, farmers and airlines.
Trócaire also wants Ireland to stop banks managing investments in the fossil fuel industry.
A fossil fuel divestment law prohibits the Government from investing public money in fossil fuel firms but no restriction applies to the billions of euros in private finance flowing through international banks and their subsidiaries here.
ActionAid Ireland, which shares those concerns, urged the Government to “seize this moment at Santa Marta to push for the beginning of the end of fossil fuels”.
“The moral, economic and climate urgency for ending the era of fossil fuels could not be clearer,” said chief executive Karol Balfe.
Deirdre Duffy, chief executive of Friends of the Earth, said the conflict in Iran had exposed the fragility of Ireland and Europe’s reliance on imported fossil fuels.
“As Ireland prepares for the EU presidency, we must move from rhetoric to delivery committing to a fast, fair transition away from fossil fuels,” she said.
The conference begins on Friday and will see the formation of a scientific panel on energy transition to advise on the practicalities of ending fossil fuel use and switching to alternatives.
A “people’s assembly” will follow until Monday with events and discussions involving NGOs, academics, community organisations and indigenous peoples.
The “high-level segment” takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday when official delegates from the participating countries will attempt to forge an agreement.
