Civil society says climate bill to be taken up by next government

The Stop Climate Chaos coalition, made up of Irish environmental, youth, development and faith-based organisations lamented today that the climate bill is among the many victims of recent political developments. The Climate Change Response Bill was published in late December with the intention of seeing it passed before the dissolution of the Dáil ahead of the general elections. With the elections looming earlier than expected, it is now clear there will not be enough time to see the legislation through both houses.

'Climate change is not going away; the new government will have to pick up the issue of climate legislation as a matter of priority', said Cliona Sharkey from Trócaire. 'People in Ireland have woken up to sustainability', Cliona said. 'If the current crisis has taught us anything, it's that the attitude that business as usual can go on forever is a recipe for disaster'.

Stop Climate Chaos contend that strong climate legislation can provide the cornerstone of a low-carbon Irish recovery that is economically, socially and environmentally sustainable.

'The Irish people must be provided with the space and the mechanism to decide how we want to address climate change. The efforts of well-oiled interest groups over the last weeks to undermine climate legislation by painting the proposed bill as detrimental to Ireland's recovery are not only disingenuous, they are dangerous', said Molly Walsh of Friends of the Earth.

'Countries in Asia, Europe and the Americas are hiking up their investment in the renewable sector and in energy efficiency. A climate law in Ireland would send a strong signal that we are building the institutional framework to support a modern and ecologically-sustainable economy, attracting our share of growing international investment. Otherwise we risk being left behind in an outdated and declining model', said Molly.

Stop Climate Chaos coalition members are making submissions to the public consultation which remains open until Friday, January 28th, 2011.

ENDS

Notes:
1. A list of TDs that have signed the Stop Climate Chaos Climate Commitment to support the Climate Bill is available here
2. 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.