MEP Kelly on COP21: “An Opportunity that we cannot miss”

MEP for Ireland South and Member of the European Parliament’s delegation for the COP21 Paris Climate Change Conference, Seán Kelly, has welcomed the opening of the highly anticipated conference today (Monday) and called on World Leaders to recognise the opportunity that lies in putting in place the agreement that ensures the future of our planet.

Speaking the in the European Parliament in Brussels today, the Fine Gael MEP highlighted the importance of the coming two weeks, stressing that the need for an ambitious agreement should not be underestimated.

“Following months of preparation, COP21 has begun. The one message I give to Heads of State as they descend on Paris today is to make sure that this is seen not as a challenge but as an opportunity. While some adjustments will be certainly be needed to achieve our world Climate goals, the huge potential for job creation and economic growth in moving towards a greener economy must be recognised and emphasised more”

“In June of this year, the G7 countries made a significant and encouraging statement in agreeing to decarbonise the global economy by 2100. This should set the scene for an ambitious roadmap towards a low-carbon system to be put in place at COP21 that will ensure that the 2oC objective is reached.”

“A legally binding global agreement will be the most effective way to ensure that each country does its fair share”

At COP21, the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), efforts will be made to achieve a new international agreement on Climate Change, applicable to all, to keep global warming below 2oC.

Mr. Kelly, the only Irish Member of a European Parliament delegation that will join the discussions on the 7th of December, highlighted to Parliamentary colleagues the need for cross-sector action.

“Moving towards a low-carbon energy system is crucial and I welcome the key messages outlined by the International Energy Agency (IEA) last week ahead of the conference”

“This agreement is indeed a great opportunity to move towards improved energy efficiencies and increased renewable energy deployment, towards accelerated energy technology innovation, and towards making the energy sector more resilient to the impacts of climate change”

“The agricultural, industrial and transport sectors will have huge roles to play too, but we must be strong in the need for a global agreement so that these sectors are not lost to carbon leakage”

“In Europe we have some of the most efficient processes in the world; it would be extremely careless to allow a situation occur in which we lose key sectors due to the rest of the world failing to match the EU’s ambition in climate action”

“An ambitious global agreement is our only option”, he concluded.