Tánaiste launches Ireland’s Climate and Environmental Finance Report 2022
- Foilsithe: 2 Feabhra 2024
- An t-eolas is déanaí: 12 Aibreán 2025
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin today launched Ireland’s Climate and Environmental Finance Report 2022, which shows that Ireland provided €120.8 million in climate finance to developing countries in 2022, an increase of 21% from 2021.
The report, which is produced annually by the Department of Foreign Affairs, describes the levels, channels and focus of funding provided by the Irish Government to support climate action and environmental protection in developing countries.
Launching the report, the Tánaiste stated:
“Last year was the hottest ever on record. The wildfires, droughts and flash flooding that affected millions across the world have brought home the brutal realities of climate change. Countries and communities who have done the least to bring about this crisis are the ones hit hardest by its impacts.
“Climate finance is crucial in the fight against climate change. Irish Aid and our partners are helping the most vulnerable to build resilience and to adapt. We remain on track for reaching our target of providing at least €225 million in climate finance to developing countries per year by 2025.”
In line with Ireland’s climate finance priorities, 80% of the funding contributed to initiatives that support developing countries to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora Seán Fleming said:
“Ireland recognises the urgency to respond to the climate crisis and address the impact it is having globally. People in some of the poorest countries in the world are suffering disproportionately. Ireland’s climate finance has more than doubled since 2015 and will grow further in the years ahead. This report demonstrates our commitment to reaching the furthest behind first and to channelling support to those most at risk of being left behind as a result of the climate crisis.”
Notes
Irish Aid is the government’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme. Climate action is one of four priority areas identified in A Better World, Ireland’s policy for international development.
Over half (53%) of the €120.8 million provided in 2022 was spent on activities that specifically target adaptation (only); 27% went to cross-cutting activities (which target both adaptation & mitigation), and the remaining 20% went to mitigation (only) activities. As such, 80% of Ireland’s total climate finance supported adaptation to climate change either as a whole or one component in 2022.
Of the total €120.8 million, the Department of Foreign Affairs provided approximately 65% (€78.4 million); Department of Finance provided approximately 16% (€19.1 million); Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications provided approximately 15% (€17.8 million), and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Marine provided approximately 4% (€5.4 million).
84% of the total bilateral climate finance, which is spent via Irish civil society organisations and Ireland’s overseas Mission network, was channelled to Least Developed Countries.
In 2022, the Irish Government published Ireland’s International Climate Finance Roadmap. This all-of-government plan sets out the pathway for realising the target announced by the Taoiseach at COP26 to provide at least €225 million in climate finance to developing countries per year by 2025.
In addition to setting out the plan for a significant scale up of Ireland’s climate finance, the Roadmap also expands the scope of support to areas where Ireland can bring further added value to international climate action, such as ocean protection, enhancing biodiversity and responding to climate-induced Loss and Damage.
Climate Action Plan 2024 was approved by Government in late 2023, subject to Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment. It will go for public consultation shortly. The implementation of the Climate Action Plan will create jobs, new economic opportunities and it will protect people and the planet.