Irish Aid's new environment policy only one part of the equation

26 Apr 2007

Stop Climate Chaos*, a unique coalition of Irish development, environment and youth agencies, has welcomed the publication today of Irish Aid's Environment Policy for Sustainable Development, but highlighted the need for much greater coherence between Irish Aid's environment policy and the policies of other government departments.

The Stop Climate Chaos coalition believes strong political leadership is required from the Irish government to reduce Ireland's carbon emissions if Ireland is intent on making a meaningful difference to the lives of poor people living in vulnerable areas around the world.

'Helping developing countries adapt to the impacts of climate change is vital, but unless the Irish government takes immediate action to reduce Ireland's carbon emissions we risk undoing any gains made. Providing assistance to the poor to deal with the impacts of climate change is only with part of the equation,' said Niamh Garvey, Policy Officer for Christian Aid Ireland, a founder member of Stop Climate Chaos.

Stop Climate Chaos is calling on the Irish government to:

Ensure Ireland does its fair share to prevent climate chaos by immediately bringing in a climate change law which provides for an annual Carbon Budget** and 3% year-on-year reductions in Irish greenhouse gas emissions.
Push for an international agreement to keep the rise in global temperatures to 2 degrees C or less. This means global greenhouse gas emissions must reach their peak and begin to decline irreversibly within 10 years.
Support developing countries adapt to the impacts of climate change

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For further information, please contact:
Niamh Garvey, Christian Aid Ireland Tel: 01 6110801 Mob: 087 7713571
Oisín Coghlan, Friends of the Earth Tel: 01 6394652 Mob: 086 8529528

Notes to Editors:
* Members of the Stop Climate Chaos Campaign are: ActionAid, Afri, An Taisce, Cap and Share, Christian Aid, Comhlámh, Concern, Cultivate, Eco-Congregation, Eco-Unesco, Feasta, Friends of the Earth, Gorta, Kimmage Development Studies Centre, Methodist Church in Ireland - Council of Social Responsibility, National Youth Council Ireland, Oxfam Ireland, People Against Climate Change, Students Against Climate Change, Trócaire, Voice.

**A carbon budget is a plan for the amount of carbon that can be emitted in a given amount of time, either by the whole economy, or by selected sectors or activities. It is analogous to the financial budget which sets out the planned spending by sector and activity for the year ahead.Stop

*** For more information on the Stop Climate Chaos coalition, visit www.stopclimatechaos.ie

**** Irish Aid's new environement policy is being launched by Mary Robinson and Minister Conor Lenihan at 6pm on Thursday 26th April. For more information see http://www.irishaid.gov.ie/article.asp?article=1033

Stop Climate Chaos | www.stopclimatechaos.ie | info@stopclimatechaos.ie