President Michael D. Higgins attends major climate change summit in Paris

President Michael D. Higgins addressed the ‘Summit of Consciences for the Climate’ on Tuesday, 21st July at the Economic, Social and Environmental Council in Paris.

President Higgins was one of four keynote speakers who delivered opening remarks at the conference. The other speakers were President Hollande, former Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, and Prince Albert of Monaco.

The focus of this summit which took place ahead of France hosting the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in December 2015 was on the involvement of citizens.

In his letter of invitation to President Higgins President Hollande stated:

“Whilst the mobilization of heads of state and government, regions, cities, the private sector and NGOs is essential, that of each citizen will be just as decisive in reaching the ambitious agreement mankind needs.”

President Hollande referred to previous statements of President Higgins and of his being aware that he had spoken frequently of the strong interconnection between development, climate change and human rights.

In a wide-ranging speech focusing on the ethical dimension of climate change, President Higgins said:

“Would it not be the greatest of all human achievements if we were to succeed in delivering the benefits of science, the shared wisdom, instinct and intuition of diverse cultures, and the products of reason and faith; and in delivering all of these through new, balanced models of development, ecology and society?

Then we might say, that when facing the fullness of our challenge, we made the decisions that offered a shelter that protected the vulnerable of the present, and at the same time, offering creative and imaginative possibilities for future generations.”

President Higgins had a bilateral meeting with President Hollande in the Elysée Palace on Monday 20 July which was followed by a State dinner.