RTÉ Ireland's National Television and Radio Broadcaster
By Colman O'Sullivan
Sunday November 13, 2022
The Stop Climate Chaos Coalition made their appeal at the Irish Famine Memorial on Custom House Quay
Climate activists have called on the Government to provide aid for countries facing famine because of climate change.
The Stop Climate Chaos Coalition made its appeal at the Irish Famine Memorial on Custom House Quay calling for the Government to commit to a loss and damage fund at COP27 in Egypt.
Deirdre Duff of Friends of the Earth Ireland said: "We're here today to remember Ireland's history of famine and to make a plea to the Government to remember that too and to stand with communities that are being impacted by climate exacerbated drought which is leading to famine."
She pointed "in particular to countries in the horn of Africa, Somalia, Ethiopia who are on the brink of famine as result of drought that is being fuelled by climate change".
The activists want the Irish Government to pledge finance for a loss and damage fund and say the commitments made by Taoiseach Micheál Martin are not sufficient.
Ms Duff added: "We were disappointed by it because he was taking money from a pre-existing promise which we'd already made, it wasn't new and additional finance for loss and damage and we really need to see finance that is specifically for loss and damage, that's additional to climate finance for mitigation and adaptation."
The five places highlighted by the activists were Somalia, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Pacific Islands.
While the horn of Africa is hit by drought, Pakistan and Bangladesh have seen increasing impacts from floods and the Pacific Islands are already losing fertile land because of rising sea levels.