Stakeholders accuse the Government of double standards on the Climate Bill
11 Jun 2013
Stop Climate Chaos, a coalition of environmental, development and faith-based organisations, has today said the Government is operating double standards when it comes to the draft climate legislation. The Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht, tasked with consulting and reporting on the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill before it goes through the Houses of the Oireachtas, is failing to provide stakeholders and the public with an inclusive and transparent process.
Stop Climate Chaos, as well as some members of the Committee, has been calling for the publication of the submissions received by the Committee at the end of April, a request that has been flatly rejected by the Chair of the Committee. With the hearings due to be held in two weeks time, there is no indication of who will be invited to present to the Committee or what their proposals are.
Ciara Kirrane of Trócaire said 'We understood that the Joint Committee was eager and enthusiastic to work on the Climate Bill, that they looked forward to engaging with a range of stakeholders and having a real impact on the legislation. However, the impression we are now getting is very different, as if meaningful debate on the Bill is no longer a goal of the Committee. This process lacks any transparency and is without credibility.'
David Healy of Oxfam said 'Making the submissions publicly available would allow a greater level of engagement and scrutiny by interested parties and the public. The whole point of this process is to encourage positive and fruitful dialogue with the range of views that exist on this issue across society. It is an opportunity to build consensus, understanding and a sense of participation.'
Last Friday, the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government launched a public consultation on the Aarhus Convention. The Convention is about ensuring meaningful public participation in environmental decision-making. Judith Turbyne of Progressio said 'In his statement Minister Hogan recognised the role the public, including environmental NGOs, can play in environmental protection and decision-making. If the precedent being set by the current process is anything to go by, the prospects for the implementation of Aarhus are dismal'.
Stop Climate Chaos also point to the lack of interest the Government has shown in listening to public opinion on climate legislation to date. Last year 623 citizens responded to a public consultation, over 80% of whom felt it was very important to set statutory emission reduction targets for 2030, 2040 and 2050. No such targets have been included in the draft legislation, confirming what Stop Climate Chaos say is a 'disregard for peoples' views on how to tackle the climate crisis'.
The Climate Bill Needs Targets
Register to meet your Environment Committee TD or Senator about the Climate Bill with us in Buswells Hotel on May 15th.
The Government has published their draft Climate Bill however it disappointingly contains no targets after 2020. For the Climate Law to have any teeth it must contain targets for 2050 so that the Government can plan to reduce our emissions by 80-95% by 2050 as advised by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to prevent runaway climate change.
Stop Climate Chaos is organising an event in Buswells Hotel in Dublin on Wednesday May 15th where you can meet your TD or Senator on the Environment Committee to tell them directly that you want them to support a strong Irish Climate Law that includes targets for 2050.
You can make a difference by joining us in Buswells! Here's what you need to know...
Email your TD or Senator to invite them to meet you in Buswells.
Let us know when your TD or Senator gets back to you and you have arraged a time to them.
If you don't have a TD or Senator on the Environment Committee you can email the Chairperson of the Committee instead by selecting your constituency.
If you do have a TD or Senator on the Environment Committee but can't make it to Buswells on May 15th - get in touch for other ways to contact them about the Climate Law.
We will match you with other people from your constituency so you can meet in a group setting.
Stop Climate Chaos will be there to provide you with all the information you need. We will send you an information pack, phone you before the event, and we will have a short briefing on the day to answer any questions you have.
When? Wednesday May 15th from 12.00 to 2.30pm. Arrange to meet your TD or Senator at a time that suits you both between 12.30 and 2.30.
CEOs of Stop Climate Chaos member organisations write to the Taoiseach about the draft Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill
Cover image for Letter from Stop Climate Chaos CEOs on Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill
CEOs of the member organisations of the Stop Climate Chaos coalition wrote to Taoiseach Enda Kenny to request a meeting to discuss the publication of the Government's draft Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill.
A climate Bill without targets won't provide certainty.
26 Feb 2013
Climate coalition slams proposed legislation as "too weak to work".
Stop Climate Chaos, the coalition of 27 groups working together on climate change have expressed frustration at the weakness of draft climate legislation published today. Their main concern is that the proposed legislation doesn't have targets for reductions in carbon emissions.
Responding to the draft Heads of Bill, Sorley McCaughey from Christian Aid said, "This Bill doesn't have what is needed to be effective. Without a named target for 2050 there isn't certainty surrounding government policy, and the legislation won't deliver a low carbon Ireland. It is simply too weak to work."
"The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has indicated that developed countries like Ireland must reduce our emissions by 80 to 95% by 2050. There is no justification for omitting this solid scientifically based objective from the Bill", said Ciara Kirrane from Trócaire.
"Economic transition to a low-carbon economy is a long-t erm goal and emissions targets should be set for every 5 year period up to a decarbonised economy in 2050. Without targets there is nothing in the Bill to drive the transition." said Ciara Gaynor from Oxfam.
"Stop Climate Chaos coalition slams Climate Bill as too weak to work."
Climate Change Bill without targets is just "going through the motions" says Stop Climate Chaos.
11 Feb 2013
Civil society coalition, Stop Climate Chaos, says that the Climate Change Bill which Minister Phil Hogan intends to bring to Cabinet tomorrow amounts to merely going through the motions and will make no meaningful contribution to addressing climate change.
Commenting Joanne McGarry of Trocaire said "The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has indicated that developing countries like Ireland must reduce our emissions by 80 to 95% by 2050. There is no justification for omitting this solid scientifically based objective from the Bill"
"Economic transition to a low-carbon economy is a long-term goal and emissions targets should be set for every 5 year period up to a decarbonised economy in 2050. Without targets there is nothing in the Bill to drive the transition." Said Ciara Gaynor of Oxfam.
Dr Judith Turbyne of Progressio concluded that "Stop Climate Chaos calls on the Cabinet to insist that Minister Hogan includes targets in his Climate Change Bill. We also call on TDs to support Deputy Catherine Murphy's Energy Security and Climate Change Bill 2012 which comes up for a vote in Dáil Éireann tomorrow. Deputy Murphy's Bill includes targets for 2030 and 2050 and an independent climate change commission. It is a far better basis for a Climate Change Act than the heads which Minister Hogan is bringing to Cabinet tomorrow."
Stop Climate Chaos welcomes the re-introduction of Climate Bill.
1 Feb 2013
Stop Climate Chaos has welcomed the launch yesterday by Sinn Fein of a Climate Bill that gained all-party support in the last Dáil. Brian Stanley TD is re-introducing the bill that was published by the Climate Change and Energy Committee in 2010.
Stop Climate Chaos supporters have sent over 90,000 messages to Government in support of the Climate Bill since the start of the campaign.
Last year Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan produced a roadmap for climate legislation in which he promised to publish a Climate Bill before the end of 2012. This Bill has yet to be published.
Ciara Kirrane Environmental Justice officer with Trocaire said 'Minister Hogan had committed to sending Heads of a Climate Bill to the Oireachtas Committee on Environment before the end of 2012. The committee is now ready to start the important job of discussing this legislation but in the absence of a government bill, an all-party supported bill is a good place to start these discussions.'
Ireland has made several pledges to cut our greenhouse gas emissions however our progress in actually making these cuts has been slow. Strong legislation is now needed to make sure these promised cuts actually happen.
Stop Climate Chaos has continually called for a strong climate bill that includes:
Legally binding emission reduction targets
Five-year carbon budgets that meet up to these targets
Targets to be met domestically - not by purchasing carbon credits overseas
The establishment of an independent climate change commission to advise Government, with the power to publish its own reports.
Sorley McCaughey of Christian Aid said 'To have any credibility the law must set an emissions target for 2050 in line with EU plans for 80-95% emissions reductions and it must give our EU 2020 target the force of national law. The Department of Environment ran a public consultation on these issues last year in which 90% of respondents stated they wanted to see climate targets enshrined in national law.'
ENDS
Notes:
The report of the Joint Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security can be found here http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?fn=/documents/
The members of Stop Climate Chaos are: Afri, BirdWatch, Christian Aid, Climate Action Ireland Platform, Comhlámh, Concern, Cultivate, Dublin Friends of the Earth, Eco Congregation Ireland, Eco Unesco, Feasta, Friends of the Earth, Gorta, Just Forests, Kimmage Development Studies Centre, Latin America Solidarity Centre (LASC), Methodist Church of Ireland- Council of Social Responsibility, Mountmellick Environmental Group (MEG), National Youth Council of Ireland, Oxfam Ireland, Presentation Ireland, Progressio Ireland, Sustain West Cork, Trócaire, An Taisce, Vita, VOICE.
Press coverage of D'OH at the Dáil
Our Homer Simpson demonstration at the Dáil on Thursday November 22nd got great coverage in the national and international press with a front page photo in the Irish Times to a centre spread in the Guardian amongst other international newspapers. We let Governments know what we think of their inaction on climate change ahead of the annual UN Climate Change Summit, where Environment Ministers from across the world met to negotiate global commitments to act on climate change. The meeting took place last week in Qatar in the city of Doha, but we think it's more like 'Doh-a'!
A short video of the Stop Climate Chaos D'OH at the Dáil action
Check out Stop Climate Chaos campaigners dressed as Homer Simpson demonstrating at the Dáil ahead of the annual UN Climate Change Summit in Doha. According to the activists, it's more like 'Doh-a'!
Stop Climate Chaos coalition dress as Homer Simpson outside the Dáil.
"D'Oh! at the Dail"
A group of Stop Climate Chaos campaigners dressed as Homer Simpson held a demonstration at the Dáil today. The protest was held ahead of the annual UN Climate Change Summit, where Environment Ministers from across the world will meet to negotiate global commitments to act on climate change.
The meeting will take place next week in Qatar in the city of Doha, but according to the activists, it's more like 'Doh-a'!
Cliona Sharkey of Trócaire said, 'This is the first global meeting of Ministers since governments agreed last year to negotiate a new global climate deal by 2015 and put it in place by 2020, but it's not clear what action they're going to take now. They're just not getting that climate change is here and we don't have the luxury of time.'
'Rocketing global food prices this year following the worst US drought in half a century show how the impacts of climate change across the world affect us all and, every time in every country it's poor and vulnerable people who bear the brunt' said Ciara Gaynor of Oxfam.
The Government has published a roadmap on climate change which promises to have a climate bill published before the end of the year.
'The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the International Energy Agency are very clear that current emission reduction commitments are far too weak and 2020 is simply too late if we're to meet the goals agreed by the international community and avoid runaway climate change. We need to introduce a climate bill this year to get Ireland on the right track - the law needs to be strong and effective and passed as soon as possible' said Sorley McCaughey of Christian Aid.
ENDS
Notes:
1. The members of Stop Climate Chaos are: Afri, BirdWatch, Christian Aid, Climate Action Ireland Platform, Comhlámh, Concern, Cultivate, Dublin Friends of the Earth, Eco Congregation Ireland, ECO UNESCO, Feasta, Friends of the Earth, Gorta, Just Forests, Kimmage Development Studies Centre, Latin America Solidarity Centre (LASC), Methodist Church of Ireland- Council of Social Responsibility, Mountmellick Environmental Group (MEG), National Youth Council of Ireland, Oxfam Ireland, Presentation Ireland, Progressio Ireland, Sustain West Cork, Trócaire, An Taisce, Vita, VOICE.
D'oh!
We are dressing up as Homer Simpsons to tell the Government D'oh!
Will you join us outside the Dáil this Thursday 22nd at 12pm and wear a Homer mask?
The next round of the international climate change negotiations is taking place in Doha, Qatar next week. Unfortunately it's more like D'oh-a for our politicians on climate change.
Stop Climate Chaos will be holding a demo outside the Dáil this Thursday 22nd at 12pm to let the government know we haven't forgotten their promise to deliver the heads of a Climate Bill in December. We will also be pointing out the stupidity that Ireland will once again be on the world stage at the UN without strong Climate Legislation at home! D'oh!
Climate change is already affecting the lives of hundreds of people all over the world. The most vulnerable to climate impacts are those in developing countries who have done least to cause the problem. We must press our politicians to act.
Join us and do Homer proud! Homer masks will be available to help you look the part.
Stop Climate Chaos welcomes the publication of NESC report on climate policy
1 Oct 2012
Stop Climate Chaos, the coalition of civil society groups, welcomes the prompt publication of a report, Towards a New National Climate Policy, by the Secretariat of the National Economic and Social Council (NESC). The purpose of this independent analysis is to inform the development of Irish climate change policy and it was requested by Minister Hogan as part of his Roadmap for Climate Policy and Legislation earlier this year.
Stop Climate Chaos also welcomes the Ministers repeated commitment to sending heads of a climate Bill to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht before the end of this year.
Announcing the landmark publication of this report Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan mentioned again his commitment to sending a draft climate Bill to the Environment Committee by the end of this year.
"This landmark report shows that it is possible to meet our 2020 targets, but to do so we must act." Commented, Michelle Lambe, a spokesperson for the coalition.
"Strong climate legislation is exactly what we need to ensure that we do achieve our 2020 targets. We look forward to engaging with Minister Hogan and the entire Cabinet Committee on Climate Change on the forthcoming legislation." Concluded Ms. Lambe.
ENDS
Notes: 1. The members of Stop Climate Chaos are: ActionAid, Afri, BirdWatch, Christian Aid, Climate Action Ireland Platform, Comhlámh, Concern, Cultivate, Dublin Friends of the Earth, Eco Congregation Ireland, ECO UNESCO, Feasta, Friends of the Earth, Gorta, Just Forests, Kimmage Development Studies Centre, Latin America Solidarity Centre (LASC), Methodist Church of Ireland- Council of Social Responsibility, Mountmellick Environmental Group (MEG), National Youth Council of Ireland, Oxfam Ireland, Presentation Ireland, Progressio Ireland, Sustain West Cork, Trócaire, An Taisce, Vita, VOICE. 2. Towards a New National Climate Policy: Interim Report of the NESC Secretariat is available for download here.
Stop Climate Chaos welcomes results of public consultation on climate policy
27 Sep 2012
Stop Climate Chaos, the coalition of civil society groups, welcomes the publication of the results of the recent Department of Environment public consultation on climate policy.
The public consultation received 623 responses in total from individual citizens, academics, NGOs, and business.
In January, Minister Hogan published the Roadmap for Climate Policy and Legislation which commits to sending heads of a climate Bill to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht later this year. 82.9 per cent of respondents felt it was very important to set statutory objectives for reducing Ireland's emissions. We look forward to the next step on the Minister Hogan's roadmap towards publishing and passing the climate Bill.
Commenting, Sorley Mc Caughey of Christian Aid said "The climate law should be strong enough to ensure it is a vital part of building a sustainable and smart Irish economy. Almost 90 per cent of respondents think Ireland should be a leader for climate action within the EU by presenting itself as a forward looking, progressive society with an economy that is sustainable on socio-economic and environmental grounds."
"Climate change is already taking its toll, costing lives and livelihoods and undermining economies around the world, particularly in poor countries that have done least to contribute to the problem. Advancing climate legislation in Ireland will be an important signal of responsibility. The results of this consultation show that many Irish people are looking for political leadership on this issue" said Cliona Sharkey of Trócaire.
A massive 92.2 per cent of respondents want to see an independent commission established to advise the Government on climate issues.
Molly Walsh of Friends of the Earth said "It is important that any advisory body established under the climate Bill has the power to publish its own reports independently from Government. This is the case in the UK where the Climate Change Commission was established under the Climate Change Act in 2008."
The results of this consultation will feed into the Department of the Environment's proposals for a climate law, due to be published by December. The consultation is also supposed to inform the independent analysis by the NESC (National Economic and Social Council) secretariat on the development of national climate policy. The Roadmap commits to publishing the NESC report, which was sent to the Minister at the end of June, by the end of September.
ENDS
Notes: 1. The members of Stop Climate Chaos are: ActionAid, Afri, BirdWatch, Christian Aid, Climate Action Ireland Platform, Comhlámh, Concern, Cultivate, Dublin Friends of the Earth, Eco Congregation Ireland, ECO UNESCO, Feasta, Friends of the Earth, Gorta, Just Forests, Kimmage Development Studies Centre, Latin America Solidarity Centre (LASC), Methodist Church of Ireland- Council of Social Responsibility, Mountmellick Environmental Group (MEG), National Youth Council of Ireland, Oxfam Ireland, Presentation Ireland, Progressio Ireland, Sustain West Cork, Trócaire, An Taisce, Vita, VOICE.
2. The results of the public consultation are available on the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government website here.
CEOs of Stop Climate Chaos member organisations write to the Taoiseach about forthcoming heads of a climate Bill
Cover image for CEO Letter to Cabinet Committee on Climate Change
CEOs of the member organisations of the Stop Climate Chaos coalition wrote to Taoiseach Enda Kenny to request a meeting with the Cabinet Committee on Climate Change and the Green Economy ahead of the publication of the forthcoming heads of a climate Bill.
Stop Climate Chaos calls on the Government to tackle climate change ahead of Rio conference
Irish and Brazilian footballing hopefuls take to the street to tell the government to tackle climate change and that the future of the planet is no game.
As the conference on sustainable development in Rio de Janeiro gets started, school children in Ireland and Brazil football kits kicked around a giant inflatable globe on Dublin's South King Street. The playful depiction of the games being played by political leaders as they debate responses to key global sustainability challenges was organised by Stop Climate Chaos, the national campaigning alliance made up of environment, development, faith and youth groups.
'The slow and inadequate response to climate change is symbolic of the inadequate action we have seen on sustainable development as a whole since the first conference in Rio twenty years ago', said Cliona Sharkey of Trócaire. 'Climate change is already having impacts all over the world, hitting people in developing countries hardest. The climate science and energy investment experts are telling us that we are running out of time to avoid the worst impacts of climate change; these next years are absolutely critical'.
'The new Sustainable Development Framework announced by the government last week is welcome, but we know from the experience of the last two decades, without the accountability of legislation, measures often and easily remain unimplemented. It is crucial that the Government makes good on its commitment to introduce a climate law this year, this will be a key tool to shape and ensure the transition to a low carbon and sustainable economy', said Lizzy Noone of Concern Worldwide.
'The government's commitment to climate legislation should be key to Minister Hogan's message at the Rio conference', said Ciara Gaynor of Oxfam Ireland. Ireland's aid budget is supporting people in developing countries to cope with the impacts of climate change they are already dealing with. This support is critical, but the government must demonstrate its commitment to tackling the causes and not just the consequences of climate change'.
ENDS
Notes: 1. The members of Stop Climate Chaos are: ActionAid, Afri, BirdWatch, Christian Aid, Climate Action Ireland Platform, Comhlámh, Concern, Cultivate, Dublin Friends of the Earth, Eco Congregation Ireland, ECO UNESCO, Feasta, Friends of the Earth, Gorta, Just Forests, Kimmage Development Studies Centre, Latin America Solidarity Centre (LASC), Methodist Church of Ireland- Council of Social Responsibility, Mountmellick Environmental Group (MEG), National Youth Council of Ireland, Oxfam Ireland, Presentation Ireland, Progressio Ireland, Sustain West Cork, Trócaire, An Taisce, Vita, VOICE.
Email Minister Phil Hogan ahead of Rio+20
Tell Minister Phil Hogan that Irelands promised climate bill should be the centre piece of his presentation at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio later this month.
The Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan is representing Ireland at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio, Brazil later this month. Governments, NGOs and other groups will come together at this important conference to agree measures to promote a sustainable future.
The climate crisis is among the greatest challenges we face. It poses life threatening risks to those in developing countries who have done least to cause the problem. Tackling climate change presents us with an opportunity in Ireland to rethink and reinvigorate our economy and society and become truly sustainable.
Register to meet your Environment Committee TD or Senator about the Climate Bill with us in Buswells Hotel on May 15th.
We are dressing up as Homer Simpsons to tell the Government D'oh! 
