GHP Comment: As Europe sets even more challenging climate action targets Ireland is identified as being amongst the worst of the world’s developed countries when it comes to responding to the climate crisis.

Our only saving grace has been the expansion of wind energy – We are identified amongst the European “outliers” – linking us with Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic. (Who have additional problems with the application of the rule of law)

See: Climate Change Performance Index 2020

How are we doing in Tourism & Hospitality? With a Green Party Minister in charge you would expect to see a raft of initiatives across the sector, linked to the substantial financial aid given out. You would see Environmental Policies and Strategies published and clear quantifiable targets set to enable the sector recover in an environmentally sustainable manner.

Sadly we can see no initiatives, no policies, no strategies. In Tourism as in our national approach it would appear that being environmentally responsible is a discussion pieces as opposed to an action piece.

It is someone else’s responsibility, we are too small to count, China is growing their carbon footprint…etc. etc. etc.

One of our greatest challenges is the perception that we are an expensive destination – as we continue to fail to engage in real Climate Change actions we will see costs increase as environmental taxes will be used worldwide to drive carbon emissions lower.

Where is our leadership? At national or sectoral level.