Midleton flooding 'nothing' compared to suffering in vulnerable countries, expert says

Ahead of the Feminist Futures event at the Douglas Hyde Gallery in Trinity College Dublin, Ms Kabir said: "If we do not do something about climate change, up to 13.3 million people in Bangladesh may become climate refugees in the next 30 years. Inequalities, already prevalent, will sharpen and increase the vulnerability of Bangladeshis. 

Unless drastic and urgent action is taken by global leaders, and by the millions of citizens on our planet, we are heading into a catastrophe.

This is hitting home here in Ireland, which saw the impacts of climate change in the last few weeks, with homes and businesses destroyed due to floods. 

However, it is nothing compared to the devastation experienced already by vulnerable countries around the world, including Bangladesh, India, the Philippines, Myanmar, Sudan, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, and Brazil."

Midleton was one of the worst affected areas in Ireland following Storm Babet last month. 

Midleton Chamber estimates that about 250 homes and businesses in the East Cork town were damaged in flooding that has been described as the worst in decades.

The world's richest countries — invariably the worst offenders when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions, according to all metrics — must step up at the forthcoming UN-backed climate change summit Cop28 in Dubai, Ms Kabir said.

"With a population of 160 million people, Bangladesh contributes just 0.3% of global C02 emissions. In comparison, the US which has just over double the population, contributes 14%. The EU, with a population of 448.4 million people, contributes 17%. 

"Ireland, while relatively small within the EU, is per capita one of the highest polluters with greenhouse gas emissions, at 11.6 tonnes per capita in 2020, compared with an EU average of 7.4 tonnes," she said.

'Loss and damage'

Cop28 will be judged on whether so-called "loss and damage" funding as agreed at last year's Cop27 in Egypt is delivered, according to Ms Kabir.

Loss and damage refers to the consequences of climate change that go beyond what people can adapt to, while climate finance refers to major nations paying a fairer share towards climate change bolstering in smaller nations.

While the agreement in Egypt to establish such a fund was celebrated last year, it has stalled in the 11 months since, with various governments tussling over who pays what and to whom it is paid.

A specially formed UN committee to bring consensus among countries has since met on five occasions to broker a deal, without success.

Recommending the World Bank, whose presidents are approved by the US, to host the fund has been proposed to break the impasse but developing nations have expressed concern that this will lead to richer nations having an outsized influence on where the funding goes.

Ms Kabir said the fund should not sit with the World Bank, as rich countries are proposing.