World leaders urged to take urgent action on climate change

World leaders have been challenged to take urgent action so that decisions made in the current decade avoid the worst consequences of climate change.

The US President Joe Biden - who is trying to reclaim global leadership in the fight against global warming - has brought leaders together for a virtual conference to mark Earth Day.

He has pledged to halve US greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and wants other countries to follow suit.

Here, the Minister for the Environment has said Ireland is tired of being a laggard and is starting to show leadership.