Environment Groups criticise 'filleted' Climate Bill

Stop Climate Chaos condemn inadequate emissions cuts as planning for failure

Today, as the Second Stage debate of the Climate Bill takes place in the Seanad, Stop Climate Chaos, the coalition of Irish civil society organisations campaigning to halt catastrophic climate change criticised the government's recently published Bill as inadequate to halt climate change.

Gavin Harte of Stop Climate Chaos said:
"The publication of an Irish Climate Change Bill is an important milestone in delivering Ireland's responsibility to deal with climate change but the Bill has been diluted by opposition within government and by special interests. While we welcome the Climate Bill, the legislation as presented fails to address runaway climate change and is recommending emissions cuts far below those identified by science as being necessary."

The target presented in the Bill of 2.5% per annum is less than the 3% per annum cuts promised in the Programme for Government and less than the 30% that the EU has committed to deliver. According to the IPCC, rich countries must cut their emissions by at least 25-40 per cent by 2020 in order to limit warming to safe levels. The emissions cuts in the Bill are consistent with only a 20% cut in emissions. Preserving a good chance of keeping warming below 2oC would require cuts of 40 per cent or more.

Moreover, carbon cuts have been long-fingered until 2020. The lack of carbon budgets and any interim targets mean that this Bill needs to be strengthened to drive early action on climate change.

Colin Roche of Oxfam said:
"The longer we leave it to deliver cuts in carbon emissions the more difficult it will become to halt runaway climate change. The Bill should be strengthened with interim targets and carbon budgets to ensure that every government must take the necessary action on climate change."

The Bill provides for an Expert Advisory Body to advise the government what measures it should undertake to halt climate change. Shockingly there is no provision for it to make its reports public.

Cliona Sharkey of Trócaire said:
"It's staggering that the government could propose hiding its climate advice from both the public and the Oireachtas. What does it fear - perhaps the embarrassment of being seen to fail to take that advice - and endangering this, and future, generations? The Bill should ensure that the expert group can publish its advice without seeking the prior approval of government."

The Stop Climate Chaos coalition plans to make a submission to the public consultation on these issues.

ENDS

Notes:
1. A briefing document on the Climate Change Response Bill is available here
2. The Climate Change Response Bill 2010 is available for download here
3. A list of TDs that have signed the Stop Climate Chaos Climate Commitment to support the Climate Bill 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 of Ireland, Oxfam Ireland, Presentation Ireland, Students Against Climate Change, Sustain West Cork, An Taisce, Trócaire, VITA, V.O.I.C.E.