Stop Climate Chaos welcomes cross-party proposal on climate legislation

Joint Oireachtas Committee publishes its Climate Change Bill

The Stop Climate Chaos coalition welcomes today's cross-party consensus on the need for a climate change law. This afternoon sees the launch of a Climate Change Bill by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security made up of representatives of all parties.

While this Bill from the Joint Oireachtas Committee is very welcome, only Government Bills are likely to become law. Stop Climate Chaos has been campaigning vocally for a strong Government Bill on climate change.

The coalition held a mass lobby event in Buswells in June where people came from all over the country to speak to their TDs about climate change. A majority of 84 TDs from across all parties now support the call for strong climate change legislation.

Sorley McCaughey of Christian Aid said "It is very welcome to see that there is all party agreement on the need for a climate law. Unfortunately we are still awaiting the publication of the Government Bill that has been promised since March."

It is 10 months since the Framework Document on Climate Legislation was published by the Government last December and a year since it was agreed by Government in the renewed Programme for Government.

ENDS

Notes
1. A list of TDs that have signed the Climate Commitment is available here
2. The 84 TDs that have individually signed the Climate Commitment include 26 from Fianna Fail, 26 from Fine Gael, all 20 Labour deputies, five of the six Green deputies, and all four Sinn Fein deputies.
3. The Climate Commitment that TDs signed is available here
4. The members of Stop Climate Chaos are: Action Aid, Afri, Birdwatch Ireland, Christian Aid, Climate Action Ireland Platform, Comhlámh, Concern, Cultivate, Dublin Friends of Earth, Eco Congregation Ireland, ECO UNESCO, Feasta, Friends of the Earth, Gorta, Just Forests, Kimmage Development Studies Centre, Latin America Solidarity Centre, Methodist Church of Ireland- Council of Social Responsibility, Mountmellick Environmental Group (MEG), National Youth Council Ireland, Oxfam Ireland, Presentation Ireland, Students Against Climate Change, Sustain West Cork, An Taisce, Trócaire, VITA, V.O.I.C.E.