Update on No New Gas - Ireland joins the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance

The reserves in currently operating oil and gas fields alone, even with no coal, would take the world beyond 1.5°C of global heating. Even this level of heating will have huge consequences on human life with sea level rises, strains on food production and irrevocable damage to the ecosystem that supports human life. The world must begin a rapid transition away from fossil fuels, including fossil gas. Rich countries like Ireland, who have been using more of their fair share of fossil fuels for years - and who are best able to absorb transitional impacts with least social costs, have a responsibility to lead this transition and phase out fossil fuels sooner, and more quickly, than poorer countries.

The recent COP26 climate summit did not result in the outcome we wanted (see more on COP26 here) but there was one exciting development on the margins of the summit. Following advocacy by Friends of the Earth and supporters the Irish Government officially joined the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance of states. The Irish Times covered our response to this announcement here. This diplomatic initiative seeks to bring together states that have ended licensing for new oil and gas exploration and production. It is the first such initiative to recognise the need for governments to phase out fossil fuel production in response to the climate crisis.
Through membership of the Alliance, the Irish Government will have to build on its recent ban on new offshore exploration licences and address a clear process to phase out oil and gas production. Ireland is also part of the EU-US partnership to cut polluting methane emissions by 30% compared with 2020 levels. Ireland now has a clear opportunity to demonstrate international climate leadership and respect these commitments by stopping support for new fossil fuel investments and infrastructure, especially fossil methane gas.

We’ve lots more work to do to kick Ireland’s addiction to fossil fuels but these are exciting steps in the right direction and we can use Ireland’s membership of the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance to push the Government to do better. For example, we’ve been highlighting the contradictions between joining this Alliance and developing seven new gas plants in Ireland. It’s been exciting to see the Fingal One Future local climate action group that we support getting organised to build local resistance to one of these gas plants. We’ve been supporting them to object to planning permission for the plant that has been announced for development in Kilshane Cross in the group’s local area.