Failing to tackle climate change will mean more people being forced to migrate from the Global South to countries like Ireland.

That's according to Dochas who are hosting a special congress on the issue at the Royal College of Physicians today.

President Michael D Higgins will give the opening address with a panel discussion on 'Adapting Humanitarian Action in a Climate Emergency.'

Wind turbines alongside a smoke stack. Picture by: Felix Busse / Alamy Stock Photo

Dochas CEO Jane Ann Mckenna said we have to play our part to help out as the planet gets warmer every year.

“The negative impact of climate change is being acutely felt by communities across the global south,” she said.

“These are communities who did the least to cause this crisis in the first place.

“That is why we must scale up our efforts to support those who are most affected by climate [change].”

The summit being held in Dublin today is also to celebrate 50 years of collaboration between humanitarian organisations in Ireland.

In a survey by the group, 43% of Irish people feel Ireland should be doing more to help developing countries tackle biodiversity loss.

Climate consequences

Ms McKenna said we need to understand how our actions have consequences in some of the poorest parts of the world.

“We have a responsibility to dramatically reduce our greenhouse grass emissions,” she said.

“But also, to provide financing for adaption efforts in the global south and provide finance to deal with loss and damage resulting from climate breakdown.”

Main image: A mother and child stand in front of a disappearing lake. Image: Oleksii Halutva / Alamy