Footprint 2020 offers timely indicator of progress on climate action

There has been a massive shift in public awareness of the need to move urgently to counter rising global emissions of carbon, and to adopt a genuinely sustainable mode of living. Footprint 2020 provides a timely indicator of progress on this front across many sectors.

The shift is best indicated by climate actions of progressive countries; states, regions, NGOs, community organisations, businesses and individuals that have decided to push on and show leadership. They have been joined in recent months by some big corporations, who have finally (and fully) accepted the need to pursue vigorous decarbonisation.

There are even some fossil fuel companies in that mix, such as oil giant BP, that are committing to becoming carbon neutral by 2050, though there are those who note there is little to indicate how they will achieve that demanding position of net-zero emissions.

Equally, key global influencers and some economists are questioning increasingly if capitalism with its narrow growth obsession and a throw-away society adds up to a broken model for existence.

Progress on sustainability is critical to generating momentum in a year flagged for scaling up ambition. Countries signed up to the landmark 2015 Paris climate agreement are due to bolster their commitments in advance of the United Nations annual climate talks – known as COP26 – being hosted by the UK in Glasgow next November.

This has added urgency because it coincides with entering a critical decade when emissions have to be forced down, as the climate science emphatically indicates this is the best way to counter global temperature rise. Moreover, the curve has to be forced down by 2030 to avoid uncontrollable – and worsening impacts on the planet.

The coronavirus pandemic is a stark moment that is prompting many to reflect on how we live, consume and work. Already, it underlines the need for national self-sufficiency, particularly in relation to energy and food production.

We perform exceptionally well on some fronts, such as the ability to take renewable energy generated within Ireland on to the national electricity grid, but it's time to face up to failures elsewhere, notably on transport, while significantly changing land use in this country. A national conversation on how best to do the latter is long overdue.

Coronavirus, also known as Covid-19, is immediate and shocking in its impact while, for many, climate disruption still remains a distant threat. Yet climate change has already caused more deaths than the worst predictions from the World Health Organisation for Covid-19. An overheating world caused by human activity is taking a terrible toll on the most vulnerable people located in developing countries; much of Africa and low-lying islands of the South Pacific.

The risk, beyond its widespread and devastating health impacts, is Covid-19 will blunt that collective global response to the climate crisis and slow much-needed action.

At least the response to the virus shows what collective action can achieve, though that effort will be required many times over to limit temperature rise since pre-industrial times to within 2 degrees, and preferably 1.5 degrees, as promised under the Paris pact.

Notwithstanding progress fuelled by a global movement led by young people and teenage activist Greta Thunberg, the reality is that the failure of major economies to commit to more rapid decarbonisation has blunted the efforts of more committed countries. The US, Brazil, Australia and Saudi Arabia top that list, and continue to block progress. In contrast, the European Green Deal is a welcome attempt to transition a continent to carbon neutrality.

Footprint 2020 provides a focus on Ireland’s progress. The good thing is Irish people to an unprecedented extent want to move quickly and abandon half-hearted attempts to reduce our carbon emissions, which are among the worst in the world on a per capita basis.

At least there are climate leaders in government at national and local level in State companies, business, and environmental NGOs like never before. We are in a better place, but much more needs to be done across society and throughout the economy before we can become climate action leaders (as is our stated wish) on the global stage.