Official Travel

Tuesday, 25 November 2025

Questions (154, 155)

Carol Nolan

Question:

154. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to estimate the total cost of the attendance of the Irish delegation at the "COP 30" conference in Brazil; to state the estimated carbon footprint or carbon cost of the Irish delegation attending the conference; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65592/25]

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Carol Nolan

Question:

155. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to state the total cost of the attendance of the Irish delegation for the COP conference in each year in 2022, 2023 and 2024; to state the estimated carbon footprint or carbon cost of the Irish delegation attending the conference each year in 2022, 2023 and 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65595/25]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

I propose to take Questions Nos. 154 and 155 together.

The Government is committed to the achievement of the objective of the UNFCCC and the goals of the Paris Agreement as the multilateral mechanisms to address the causes and consequences of climate change.

I travelled to COP30 in Belém, and undertook a range of important engagements with our development partners, as well as bilateral meetings with senior government representatives.

Officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade were fully engaged with the COP30 process throughout, and formed part of the delegation at the conference in Brazil, together with officials from a range of other Departments and agencies.

The costs associated with the Department's participation at the COP30 conference are not yet finalised. Once all financial matters related to COP30 are closed, I will be happy to furnish full details from the Department. In relation to the Department’s estimated carbon footprint or carbon cost related to attending the conference, this is a matter that officials will review in the weeks following COP, and again I will be happy to furnish further details as and when this information becomes available.

It has not been possible to collate complete information for the COP conferences in the years 2022, 2023 and 2024 as requested by the Deputy in the time allowed. I will, however, make arrangements to reply to the Deputy in line with Standing Orders once the information is to hand.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51.

As noted in my reply of 25th November 2025, a full response has been deferred until information on the requested costs, including carbon costs, have been finalised for COP30 (2025), and have been collated for the three previous COPs: COP29 (2024), COP28 (2023), and COP27 (2022).

The Government is fully committed to the achievement of the objectives of the UNFCCC and the goals of the Paris Agreement as the multilateral mechanisms to address the causes and consequences of climate change.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has worked with other Departments and with our partners to ensure the most ambitious possible agreements can be reached at COP negotiations. In particular, we have worked closely with the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, which leads Ireland’s delegation to the UNFCCC and the COP processes.

The estimated total costs (including the estimated carbon cost) associated with my Department's participation at the last four COPs are as follows:

Costs	2022 (COP27)	2023 (COP28)	2024 (COP29)	2025 (COP30)
Flights	€8,652.80	€29,091.77	€12,093.04	€31,573.85
Hotels	€11,983.45	€52,284.45	€55,746.46	€55,540.03
Expenses	€11,257.77	€15,056.28	€7,925.93	€10,126.12
Total	€31,894.02	€96,432.50	€63,672.39	€97,240.00
Carbon (Tonnes)	6.56	9.53	3.69	14.04

These records represent the most complete data available for the period requested. Questions with respect to the costs and carbon footprint for other Departments or Agencies in relation to previous COPs should be directed to the appropriate Department or Agency concerned.

Question No. 155 answered with Question No. 154.