Taoiseach Brian Cowen will attend high-level talks on climate change today at the UN Headquarters in New York.
A special meeting of heads of Government and State was convened by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in a bid to reach an ambitious international agreement on climate change next December in Copenhagen.
During his trip Mr Cowen will also attend the UN General Assembly, which will be addressed by US president Barack Obama, and meet corporate leaders who were unable to travel to the Global Economic Forum in Farmleigh House at the weekend.
The Taoiseach said climate change is the most important and pressing issue on the world’s agenda.
“Reaching a legally binding international agreement later this year is vital not only for our future prosperity but for the well-being and future of our planet,” he said. “Ireland fully supports the EU’s global role and aims on climate change.
“Indeed, Ireland played a full part in ensuring that combating climate change was included as a specific competence of the EU in the Lisbon Treaty.”
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Cowen said the purpose of the New York meeting was "to put political momentum" behind the climate-change agenda ahead of the Copenhagen meeting. "The fact that heads of state and government are in attendance will, I think, help to build that momentum for a push for a solution, an overall deal in Copenhagen.
"We need to see more progress than has been the case up to now. I think Europe continues to provide a leadership role, but Europe made it very clear . . . during the week that its for other parts of the world now to come up to the plate and see what they are going to do both in terms of commitment and the money that will be needed for it," he said.
Mr Cowen noted that US President Barack Obama had invested political capital in the issue but that the health-care issue was dominating congressional concerns. "But I also think . . . the address Mr Obama will give to the UN this week could give us an indication as to how he feels he'll be able to deliver by Copenhagen time."
This issue [climate change] is fundamental for this century, indeed for the coming decades . . . we have to try and deal with this question, and as being part of the European Union, Ireland has a much bigger say in than would be the case if we were on our own," he said.
Mr Cowen also repeated it was the Government's intention that a carbon levy would be introduced in the December budget. "We've been making it clear that the whole question of a carbon levy is something that we want to deal with in the next budget and to do so in a way that the employment potential of the economy is maintained as well and improved for the future."
Irish aid agency Oxfam Ireland called on the Taoiseach to use the New York event to show how Ireland will back a fair climate deal which supports poor countries to deal with climate change.
Jim Clarken, chief executive of Oxfam Ireland, said it is a great opportunity for Mr Cowen to show the country is prepared to stand up and be counted on climate change.
He said Ireland, as one of the richest countries in the world and one of its six highest polluters, has a responsibility to deliver action to halt climate change.
“Ireland has yet to show leadership on climate change or to push for European leadership on the issue,” added Mr Clarken. “We should not be a silent partner against global warming but a loud and clear voice calling for a fair climate deal.
“We cannot halt devastating climate change without a deal that is both safe and fair for all countries.”
PA