Reflections on COP30: Implications for Ireland’s Presidency of the EU in 2026

15 Jan 2026

The Sustainability Institute and the Centre for Law and the Environment in UCC hosted an event yesterday on the theme "Reflection on COP30: Implications for Ireland’s Presidency of the EU in 2026".

Chaired by Prof Áine Ryall, School of Law, it opened with an address by Oonagh Buckley, Secretary General, Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment & Adjunct Professor at the School of Law UCC. Oonagh, a UCC Law alumna, provided insights on COP30 – and international climate policy more generally – and set the scene for Ireland’s forthcoming Presidency of the Council of the EU.

A panel discussion with Sumaya Mohammed and Dr Breffní Lennon (members of the UCC Delegation to COP30) and Prof Aoife Daly (who leads the ERC-funded Youth Climate Justice project) added a range of perspectives on COP30, including those of children and young people.

At a time of political instability, when multilateralism is under intense strain, international climate policy faces very significant challenges. Strong leadership and skilled diplomacy, together with sustained ambition and determination, are needed more than ever.