Seán Kelly MEP appointed European Parliament representative at historic Climate Change negotiations

MEP for Ireland South and leader of Fine Gael in the European Parliament, Seán Kelly, will represent the European Parliament at the upcoming COP21 Paris Climate Conference in December at which an historic global agreement to combat Global Warming is set to be finalised.

MEP Kelly, a leading member of the European Parliament’s committee on Industry, Research and Energy has said he is honoured to have been chosen as Parliament representative for the Conference.

“It is a great honour to have been entrusted with the responsibility of representing the European Parliament and putting forward our position in December. In Paris history will be made as we put in place what will hopefully be an ambitious, strong, and binding global agreement that will put the world on track towards achieving the 2oC objective”.

The 2oC objective refers to the need to limit rises in global average temperature to below 2oC compared with pre-industrial levels. The transition will require a global transition to a low-emissions system. Mr. Kelly, who for the past number of months has been leading the Parliament’s work on the Climate Agreement, has encouraged his colleagues to adopt an ambitious and fair agreement;

“When it comes to Climate action, the EU very much leads the way in effort and ambition. Our emissions declined by 19% between 1990 and 2013, while over the same period EU GDP grew by 45%. It is our job to now encourage the rest of the world to join us in combatting this overarching challenge.

“In June, we welcomed the declaration at the G7 summit by world leaders for their strong determination to reach a deal – now I want to see these words put into concrete actions. Paris will be the perfect place to reach a strong and legally binding agreement.

Kelly’s announcement comes as United Nations (UN) leaders adopt the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which contains a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outlining the global framework to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development by 2030. The Fine Gael MEP, who in recent weeks has also led work in the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee on defining the important role the EU has to play at UN level, noted the complementarity of the SDGs with what is set to be achieved in Paris.

“I strongly welcome the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2030. This will be important in encouraging widespread ambition and cohesion in Paris. We need also to ensure that the parallel challenges outlined in these goals are considered and met.

“Therefore these discussions should promote the sustainable intensification of food production, contributing greatly to global food security, but at the same time encourage the transition to a low carbon economy particularly in terms of increased Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy deployment, and sustainable land management and afforestation, recognising the key decarbonising role of forests and grasslands in this challenge”.

“This is one of the greatest challenges of our time. I look forward to playing my part in securing this ground-breaking agreement”, he added.