Ireland to host first-ever national pavilion at COP31 during EU Council Presidency

• Pavilion will support Ireland’s role leading EU negotiations and put Irish and European climate action before a global audience in Türkiye
• Programme to span electrification, climate finance, just transition, decarbonisation and support for Small Island Developing States
• Sponsors announced for Pavilion, showcasing Irish business engagement in climate action

Ireland will have its own pavilion at the UN Climate Change Conference for the first time when COP31 opens in Türkiye next month. Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien has confirmed the pavilion will be a central part of Ireland’s presence at the conference, which takes place while Ireland holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

As holder of the Presidency, Ireland will lead negotiations, alongside the European

Commission, on behalf of the EU at COP31, coordinating the positions of member states and working with allies to secure progress. The pavilion is designed to support that work. It will showcase Irish and European climate leadership and collaboration while giving Irish and European negotiators a base for partner engagement and outreach. The pavilion, through an extensive programme of talks, meetings and events, will support Ireland and the EU’s commitment to the multilateral process. The pavilion programme is available here.

The pavilion will be delivered by a Government Team Ireland. The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment will be joined by the Department of the Taoiseach, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Teagasc, the Environmental Protection Agency, Met Eireann, IDA, SEAI, EirGrid and other State bodies. The Irish delegation will also include Irish environmental NGOs, civil society groups and representative bodies including the Climate Change Advisory Council and Just Transition Commission.

Demonstrating a cross-sectoral and whole of society approach, Irish business and enterprise will also be represented at the event. The pavilion would not be possible without the support of trusted domestic and international partners, whose backing spans all of the pavilion’s priority areas. AIB’s strong commitment to financing the transition in Ireland made it an obvious choice as primary sponsor, and it will take part in the Finance and Cooperation strand of the programme.

KPMG, Zurich Insurance Group and Federated Hermes are the other enterprise sponsors for the Pavilion. IDA Ireland, SEAI, ESB and EirGrid are also sponsoring the pavilion and will participate in the enterprise, electrification and decarbonisation elements of the programme.

Irish representatives will also take part in international events across the conference, including actively participating in panels and sessions at other pavilions throughout the two weeks.

The pavilion will also host an Irish cultural evening during COP, in partnership with RTÉ lyric fm. The cultural evening will be an opportunity to celebrate the role of culture and the arts in highlighting climate issues. The cultural evening will be presented by RTÉ lyric's Aedín Gormley who has selected some of our finest musicians from classical, folk and traditional Irish music spheres to perform at this evening of musical storytelling. The full line-up for the event will be announced by RTÉ in the coming days. The pavilion will also host an exhibition by renowned artist Vivienne Roche entitled “ASK: Art Science Knowledge”, which brings together art, climate science and research in a powerful exploration of beauty, knowledge and our changing planet.

Minister O’Brien said:

“I am delighted to launch this first ever Irish COP pavilion. For the first time, Ireland will have a home of its own at the UN climate conference, which is of particular importance while Ireland holds the EU Presidency. Ireland will be leading negotiations for Europe at this COP, and that is a real responsibility. At a time when multilateral cooperation is under strain, it matters that countries turn up visibly and collaboratively, ready to work with all partners across society. The pavilion gives our negotiators and Team Ireland a base to meet partners, build alliances and show what Ireland and Europe are delivering, including with the small island and Pacific nations on the front line of climate change. It also allows us to showcase the best of Ireland across policy, business, community action and culture. COP31 is an important moment to keep global climate action moving, and that depends on partnership across governments, business, civil society and communities. I’m hugely grateful to all our sponsors, and I look forward to welcoming partners from across the world to the Irish pavilion in Türkiye.”

Colin Hunt, Chief Executive Officer of AIB, said:

“We are proud to partner with the Irish Government for COP31. This is a significant moment for Ireland’s climate leadership and a powerful opportunity to turn ambition into practical action through our country’s collective presence at the event. As a recognised financial services leader in Ireland’s transition to a low carbon future, AIB is already helping to finance a more sustainable, resilient and competitive economy - from renewable energy and essential infrastructure to warmer homes, lower-carbon businesses and a just transition for farmers and communities. We have provided €26 billion in green and transition lending since 2019, and we remain firmly focused on delivering our €30bn ambition by 2030. We also recognise that progress will not always be linear. That is why partnership matters, through the bringing together of government, business, finance, research and civil society to create investable projects at the scale and speed required. AIB’s partnership with the Irish Government at COP31 reflects our commitment to staying the course, providing visible leadership and supporting customers through change.”

Mike Hayes, Global Head of Climate, Decarbonisation, Nature and Renewable Energy in KPMG said:

“KPMG is delighted to be sponsoring the Irish pavilion at COP 31. We see this as a unique opportunity to work with the Irish Government to highlight the significant contribution being made to the global climate agenda and the energy transition not just by KPMG, but also by many different Irish private and public sector organisations.”

Anthony Brennan, CEO, Zurich Ireland, said:

“At Zurich, we have long advocated for making resilience a central pillar of climate action. Insurers, with their risk management expertise and insights, have a critical role to play in helping communities and businesses better understand and withstand the impacts of climate change. But building resilience at scale requires close collaboration with governments and other public sector partners to mobilise investment and strengthen preparedness. We are pleased to support the Irish Pavilion at COP31 during Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union and help advance the conversations and partnerships needed to accelerate resilience and drive practical action.”

Saker Nusseibeh CBE, CEO of Federated Hermes Ltd said:

"We are proud to support Ireland's pavilion at COP31 and the government's leadership in advancing a forward-looking sustainability agenda. That commitment strongly aligns with Federated Hermes' long-held belief that creating sustainable wealth depends on effective stewardship and a focus on all long-term drivers of value creation. Through our investment and stewardship activities, we engage on issues including climate resilience, the energy transition, biodiversity and governance, helping companies build durability and create long-term value for our clients around the world. COP31 provides another important opportunity to strengthen collaboration and accelerate progress towards a more sustainable and prosperous future."