While Ireland's politicians have so far completely failed to rise to the challenge of tackling the deepening climate crisis, we have today witnessed the power of the public exercising direct democracy, via the Citizens' Assembly, in demanding urgent, wide-ranging actions on climate change. John Gibbons, An Taisce's spokesperson, who attended the Assembly as an observer, stated "It is clear that once Irish citizens are exposed to an objective assessment of the threats posed by climate change, away from the misleading tactics of special interest lobbyists, there emerges a real will to make progress, rather than excuses, in addressing this critical issue". An Taisce had volunteer observers present throughout the two weekends that the Assembly met and commends it for its professionalism and diligence. It also warmly welcomes the outcome of the rigorous Citizens' Assembly [1] process, and applauds all, both citizens and experts, who participated in this historic forum. The Citizens' Assembly voted on 13 Recommendations designed at stepping up Ireland's extremely poor performance to date. Tellingly, all 13 were endorsed in a secret ballot by the 99 citizens. This should be borne in mind as efforts by lobbyists to undermine the democratic findings of the Assembly are already underway, including ill advised and inaccurate comments today by turf contractor and climate denier Michael Fitzmaurice, TD. [2] The vacuum in climate leadership nationally was identified by the Citizens Assembly, when it voted by a huge margin (97%) in favour of setting up a new or existing independent body, with resources and appropriate powers, to "urgently address climate change", including ensuring the implementation of the findings of the Citizens' Assembly. This surely finally answers 'Climate Action' minister, Denis Naughten's refrain that it is 'not his job to tell people what to do'. The evidence is clear: the public is asking for, in fact, demanding leadership. It is time for Mr Naughten to either step up and lead, or step aside. There was 100% citizen support for the State taking a "leadership role in addressing climate change through mitigation measures, including retrofitting public buildings, low-carbon public vehicles, renewable generation on public buildings, as well as climate adaptation measures. There was also near-unanimity (96%) on the need for the State to carry out a comprehensive audit of vulnerability of critical infrastructure. Importantly, some 80% of respondents stated they would be 'willing to pay higher taxes on carbon intensive activities', showing a genuine willingness among the public to 'take a hit' financially if it means a safer future for all. An overwhelming 97% of citizens voted in favour of removing all subsidies for peat-burning, favouring these to be phased out over a five-year period. There was even stronger agreement (99%) among citizens that the State should legislate to enable the public to sell back micro-generated clean electricity to the grid at a fair price. Continued foot-dragging by the Government on this issue is clearly in defiance of the will of the people. A very strong majority (89%) of citizens favour taxing greenhouse gases from agriculture, on condition that there also be rewards for farmers involved in land practices that sequester carbon. Revenues from agri GHG taxes should be directed into supporting climate-friendly agriculture. An equally strong majority (92%) of the citizens favoured prioritising all future infrastructure spending to be weighted by at least 2:1 in favour of supporting high quality public transport, especially in rural areas, while there was near-unanimity (96%) on the need for the government to support the rapid transition to electric vehicles. Some 93% of citizens voted to support a switch in transport priority towards bus and cycle lanes, and that these should be given priority over private car use. Support for organic farming (99%) was virtually unanimous, while there was strong support (93%) for specific measures to reduce food waste. Total unanimity (100%) was achieved by citizens in favour of the State ensuring all future renewable energy projects have community participation, consultation and ownership built in from the outset. ENDS
I want to sincerely thank the members of the Citizens' Assembly and its Chair Ms Justice Mary Laffoy, and to those who made submissions to the Assembly, for their deliberations, their time and their recommendations on 'how the State can make Ireland a leader in tackling Climate Change.' The contribution made by the members of the Citizens' Assembly and by the various speakers and contributors to the critical and urgent issue of climate change over the course of two full weekends is very welcome by me as Climate Action Minister and by the Government as a whole. I will study the recommendations systematically and comprehensively, but is very clear from the results of the votes this afternoon that as a nation we are engaged and ready to move-on from the model we inherited from the industrial revolution. The 100% response in favour of Question 6 specifically shows that we must connect the essential requirements of energy infrastructure developed for the benefit of the country as a whole and concerns of communities where it is built. Community-led electricity and energy projects offer a real opportunity for local economic growth. Tackling climate change is one of this Government's most pressing challenges. To tackle it effectively requires fundamental societal transformation. It requires resources, sustained policy change and engagement with wider society. People cannot be commanded, they must be consulted. Society cannot be changed by diktat. The discussions at the Citizens' Assembly and the 1,200 submissions from the public on the topic, will make a pivotal contribution to the societal transformation that is required. On climate change, ambitious action is possible. To make Ireland a leader in tackling climate change we need to bring the global climate challenge down to community level and that means the Government must give people the tools and resources to help make the transition to a low carbon economy. In Budget 2018 there were at least 30 measures specifically related to action on climate change, and energy efficiency was a key element. Energy efficiency and climate action are inextricably linked. Using less energy and using it more efficiently is the most cost-effective and accessible way to tackle climate change. Ireland's first ever statutory National Mitigation Plan, published last July, is an important first step. It faces up very frankly to the fact that we are coming from behind where we should be, and that the distance we must go is challenging. This is a whole of government plan and it is a living document. It is whole of government because all of government is signed-up and agreed. It is effective because ministers in agriculture, in the built environment and in transport are in law directly accountable to the Oireachtas for delivery. It is facing up to the challenges ahead. It is a living document not because it lacks in specific actions, but because those actions specified will be augmented and added to over time, with ongoing policy and resource decisions. And, time is pressing. I am leading a National Dialogue on Climate Action that will help drive awareness around specific steps people can take daily in their lives to try to tackle climate change. I am particularly keen to learn the Assembly's views on how best the Dialogue should engage with the wider public. I expect that this will provide a valuable base of evidence and ideas from which to draw on. The challenge is not just to change what we do, it is to reimagine how we think and I am committed and determined to lead this change as Ireland's first Minister for Climate Action. Once again I thank the members, Chair and speakers for their valuable contribution to the Citizens' Assembly and in helping to move Ireland towards a leadership role in tackling the global challenge of climate change. Ends.
Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE), a network of citizens committed to protecting Ireland's environment, has launched a legal challenge against the Irish Government's failure to take the required action to avert dangerous climate change. Inspired by global climate change litigation, including the 900 Dutch citizens who filed a case against the Dutch Government and the 21 children currently taking on the US Government, FIE has filed a lawsuit against the Government of Ireland and Ireland's Attorney General. The case is the first of its kind in the country. The legal challenge claims that the Irish National Mitigation Plan - one of the main planks in the Government's climate change policy - does not do enough to reduce Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions and is a violation of Ireland's Climate Act, the Irish Constitution and human rights obligations. FIE also claims that the Plan falls far short of the steps required by the Paris Agreement on climate change. Tony Lowes of FIE commented, "The Government has acknowledged many times at UN level that Ireland should reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 25-40% by 2020 (compared to 1990) to help avoid dangerous climate change. Instead, our emissions are projected to increase by 7.5-10% by 2020 and to increase further by 2030." Lowes continued, "The consequences of climate change are dire. This has long been acknowledged by our government, but they still refuse to take the necessary action. This case is not about any one environmental organisation. It's a case for everyone in Ireland, young and old. We're hoping the case will capture imaginations here and abroad and galvanise a movement pushing for ambitious action. The extreme impacts of climate change are beginning to hit home - we need to act urgently to ensure this is not the new normal for us and for our children and grandchildren." Dutch lawyer Dennis van Berkel says he'll be following the case with great interest. Van Berkel is legal counsel to the Urgenda Foundation, which was behind the Dutch climate case in 2015. "The Dutch case proved that all governments have a legal duty to protect their citizens against climate change by doing their part to lower emissions," said van Berkel. "Given Ireland's seriously inadequate climate policies and growing emissions, this case may well lead to the court reaching the same conclusion. Governments all over the world, including in the US, Belgium, Switzerland, and New Zealand, are being held legally accountable for their inaction on climate change, and all eyes will now be on what unfolds in Ireland." FIE today obtained permission from the High Court to proceed with its lawsuit. The Government has three weeks to file its reply (though it may take much longer) and the case should then be heard in 2018. ENDS Background information:
Click on these links for more information about the Dutch climate litigation led by Urgenda and the US federal lawsuit.
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