As government formation talks turn to climate, faster and fairer action "more important than ever"

Campaigners share policy briefing with all parties around the table

With government formation talks due to tackle climate and energy today, during a period of freezing weather for homes around Ireland, Friends of the Earth has called on all negotiating parties to treat climate breakdown as the emergency it is. The climate justice organisation has demanded that the new Programme for Government commits to reducing polluting emissions in line with national and EU limits, ending reliance on dirty, expensive fossil fuels, while also taking action against poverty and inequality. Friends of the Earth has shared a detailed policy briefing with all parties, which calls for actions on energy poverty, fossil fuel phase-out and data centres to be prioritised in the Programme for Government [1].

Seán McLoughlin Climate Policy Campaigner in Friends of the Earth said:

“The climate emergency is not just another item on the political agenda, and climate action cannot simply be a bargaining chip in government formation. Climate breakdown is accelerating and, if left unchecked, its impacts will destroy our way of life. Equally, strong, swift and just climate action has the potential to fundamentally improve quality of life and the resilience of our local communities.

“Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael voted for the climate law, and have repeatedly stated their commitment to its obligations - this must be clearly articulated in the Programme for Government.

“The decisions made in the coming days will define the trajectory of Ireland’s response to the escalating climate emergency. The measures agreed to in any Programme for Government must set us on a clear path to meeting, in a just and equitable manner, our legally binding obligations. If the incoming government does not place faster, fairer climate action at the heart of its agenda, the state risks billions in EU non-compliance costs which will fall on the public purse [2].”

Calling on the next Government to guarantee warm homes for all, Clare O’Connor, Programme Coordinator for Friends of the Earth, said:

"Sub-zero temperatures in the midst of continuously high energy costs highlight an energy poverty crisis Ireland can no longer afford to ignore. The next Programme for Government must prioritise a long-term plan to make home retrofits more affordable for those most in-need, slash energy bills and phase out fossil fuel heating in homes as a matter of urgency.

"Without a clear roadmap to boost renewable heating, improve housing conditions, and eradicate energy poverty, we risk not only missing carbon budgets and EU targets, but also leaving families vulnerable to future energy shocks.

"Minimum BER standards in rental properties, due to be introduced in 2025, must be enforced without delay, with robust protections for tenants.. This government cannot let progress stall when the stakes are so high."

Jerry Mac Evilly, Head of Policy for Friends of the Earth, said:

“The new Government must start treating fossil fuel dependency as a fundamental threat not only for the environment and the economy but crucially to the health and wellbeing of communities around Ireland. The Programme for Government must ensure plans from relevant Departments and semi-state companies prioritise clear trajectories and timelines for fossil fuel phase-out consistent with carbon budgets. It must also reject new gas infrastructure, particularly LNG which would prolong our fossil fuel dependence and undermine both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael manifesto commitments to rapidly advance renewable energy.

"The new Government must also reign in runaway data centre development. Ireland has become a poster child for unchecked unsustainable expansion with soaring electricity demand. Research from UCC [3], commissioned by Friends of the Earth, reveals a stark picture concerning increased use of fossil fuels by data centres and how its soaring gas consumption is both undermining climate action and energy security.

“Political parties must support a legal moratorium on connecting more data centres until the policy framework proposed in expert research has been implemented and the threats data centres pose to climate, energy security and customers bills have been removed.”

Notes

1 The Friends of the Earth briefing is online here: https://www.friendsoftheearth.ie/assets/files/pdf/briefing_on_climate_action_for_pfg_-_january_2025.pdf

2. The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council report is online here: https://www.fiscalcouncil.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Fiscal-Assessment-Report-December-2024-1.pdf 

3. Prof Hannah Daly’s UCC report is online here: https://www.friendsoftheearth.ie/assets/files/pdf/data_centrres_and_the_carbon_budgets_-_prof_hannah_daly_dec_2024.pdf