Mary Robinson: 'If we reach tipping point territory, then we’re making it far more likely that future generations will have an unliveable world.' Photograph: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin
She said that “if we reach tipping point territory, then we’re making it far more likely that future generations will have an unliveable world. It will start with the poorest countries, and they will move in their millions. It’s predicted that more than a million people may move by 2050.” One of the big impediments however is the fossil fuel lobby which is getting subsidies “to continue providing fuel that is harming the world” including coal, oil, gas or turf.
Ms Robinson said her home county local authority, Mayo County Council had published an obligatory climate action plan for 2024 to 2029 and “it looks great, except it’s not funded” and “that’s the problem” and it was the same for every local authority. A number of senators spoke after the former president’s address. Independent Senator Eileen Flynn said she first met Mrs Robinson as president when she was six years old and in a refuge with her mother.But she said “unless we address poverty in this country we are not going to address climate change”.