Ireland is listened to during climate discussions because we 'don't have colonialist mindset', Eamon Ryan has said.
The Environment Minister was speaking as the COP28 summit gets underway in Dubai, with more than 160 world leaders expected to attend.
The summit brings together a broad range of the biggest names in politics, business and climate activism.
Minister Ryan said told The Pat Kenny Show that Ireland has an important role to play.
"Ireland, we're tiny, but we have a voice that's listened to because we tend to come from a perspective that is good at development, support, aid," he said.
"We don't have a kind of colonialist mindset, we have a proud record in how we support countries in Africa and elsewhere.
"It's using some of that culture, as it were, to say we can do this in a collaborative way.
"That's the voice that I'll be trying to represent along with the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste at the negotiations".
'Just and fast transition'
Minister Ryan said any climate change measures have to be fair or they won't work.
"There is a fundamental injustice at the moment," he said.
"We have to put climate justice into the solutions, it has to be a just transition.
"If it's not a just transition, it won't be a fast transition and it needs to be fast transition to be just.
"That means the continents of Africa, but also Latin America, a lot of countries in south-east Asia, are not seeing the revolution that's taking place.
"It does require wealthier, developed countries like Ireland and others making a contribution.
"I describe this as the peace project of our time, we will never fight over solar energy, you'll never hold a country to ransom over solar energy.
"The fact that Africa develops is to our benefit not to our loss," he added.
Minister Ryan said he is "confident" of an agreement to triple renewable power across the world in the next seven years at COP28.
He also said figures show the number of Irish houses getting retrofitted this year is well ahead of target at close to 40,000.
