Former president Mary Robinson has issued a stark warning that we may have no more than six years left to address climate change before reaching a detrimental “tipping point”, after which the environment could become hostile towards us. This year alone, she pointed out, global temperatures have risen above 1.5 degrees on multiple occasions.
Robinson alluded to the potential repercussions in the next half-dozen years, mentioning the likely extinction of coral reefs and the total disappearance of Arctic ice. The meltdown is expected to dramatically transform the Gulf Stream’s entire system, given the close connection between the Arctic and Antarctic regions.
The thawing of the permafrost will propel both carbon and methane into the atmosphere, with methane proving to be the more threatening of the two. The permafrost holds vast amounts of methane beneath its surface.
According to Robinson, entering the “tipping point territory” could make our planet inhabitable for future generations. She predicted that this damaging effect would firstly hit the poorer countries, causing an estimated mass migration of over a million people by 2050.
Speaking at the Seanad, where Robinson had once served as a senator from 1969 to 1989, she spoke of the need for adopting a more positive outlook. Millions around the world inching towards a world powered by clean energy, healthier, safer, cleaner, and fairer. However, progress is far from satisfactory.
Robinson highlighted the hindrance posed by fossil fuel lobbyists, who continue to secure subsidies for harmful fuels like coal, oil, gas or turf. They also annually invest $4 billion on strategic disinformation campaigns, shifting focus to individuals instead of big polluting companies.
Climate scientists have affirmed that a drastic directional shift in sustainable practices within the next six years or fewer is paramount lest we face nature’s wrath.
Robinson also raised concern about her home county’s Mayo County Council. Although they have outlined an obligatory climate action plan for the period of 2024 to 2029, their efforts fall short due to lack of funding, a problem mirrored across local authorities.
She conveyed her dissatisfaction that during the local election campaign, there was no mention of Ireland’s probable shortfall in achieving carbon emission reduction targets – expected to reduce by only 29 per cent instead of the targeted 51 per cent by 2030. The reason, it would appear, was the fear of not being re-elected.
Ms. Robinson criticised the idea of the country facing billions of euros in penalties as “nonsensical” and “preposterous,” arguing that the country should understand the need to invest to motivate people to take action now.
Post the former president’s address, a few senators shared their thoughts. Independent Senator Eileen Flynn recalled her first meeting with Mrs Robinson when she was only six and living in a shelter with her mother.
“I am now where you once were, and you continue to be a source of inspiration,” she announced. However, she clarified that without tackling domestic poverty, effective action against climate change could not happen.
The key societal problems, according to Ms Flynn, outweighed climate change. She listed poverty, starvation, substance abuse, and the pervasive trauma experienced in temporary dwelling places amongst the key issues. She raised concerns about the 17 sustainable goals, pointing out that many members of the Traveller community still lacked access to running water and numerous working-class individuals were persistently battling for survival on the fringes of society each day.