Would be Taoiseachs can’t dodge the climate question

Leaders of three largest parties have yet to accept invite to climate action hustings

Friends of the Earth publishes 5-point plan for the next government to deliver faster climate action 

Friends of the Earth has suggested the leaders of the three largest parties may be “dodging the climate question”. The environmental campaigning organisation has invited the leaders of all the Dáil parties to a Leaders’ Hustings on Climate Action on Wednesday 20 November. So far, Labour, the Greens, the Social Democrats and People Before Profit have confirmed but none of Simon Harris, Micheál Martin or Mary Lou McDonald have committed to attending. Friends of the Earth has also today published a 5-point plan for the next Government to deliver faster and fairer climate action called Healthier and Fairer Communities For All. 

Commenting, Friends of the Earth chief executive, Oisín Coghlan, said:

“I hope Mary Lou, Simon and Micheál aren’t planning to dodge the climate question during this election campaign. Voters deserve to hear how those who want to be Taoiseach would approach the climate challenge. 

“The election campaign may be short but the consequences of the next Government’s climate plans will be very long-lasting.

“Mary Lou, Simon and Micheál voted for the climate law, passed 129 votes to 10 by the 33^rd Dáil. They owe it to voters to explain how they plan to uphold the law and reduce polluting emissions fast enough to stay within the binding limits agreed on a cross-party basis by the outgoing Dáil and on an international basis with our EU partners.

“Our political leaders also need to tell us how they will make sure climate action is fair. How they will make sure climate policy doesn’t add to cost of living pressures for those who are already struggling.

“The good news is that we already know how to ensure climate action addresses people’s immediate everyday concerns, how to ensure it reduces poverty and inequality rather than exacerbating it.

“Friends of the Earth has spent a lot of time considering the evidence, to draw up our Programme for a Government that Delivers Faster and Fairer Climate Action, which we are publishing today.

“It means the Government leading the transformation of our energy, transport, housing and food systems, it cannot be left to grants, taxes and individual behaviour change. Only elected politicians can ensure the transition is fair, creating quality jobs and decent living standards while ensuring the solutions are accessible and affordable for all.

“Political leaders need to be upfront that while we have made a start cutting pollution, we delayed so long that the transition will be disruptive and inconvenient at times. But it will actually improve our quality of life and safeguard our children’s futures. We are seeing more and more what runaway climate breakdown could look like, from wildfires in the US and Australia to the flash floods in Spain recently.

“So, I’m renewing my call today for all the Dáil’s party leaders to accept our invitation to the climate action hustings on November 20^th. Voters deserve to hear from them on the greatest challenge the next Government will face, playing its part to contain climate breakdown.”

Friends of the Earth’s Programme for a Government that Delivers Faster and Fairer Climate Action, published today, contains dozens of practical policies and measure but can be summarised in the following 5-point plan:

1. Uphold the climate law at home, and champion fast, fair and funded action globally
    
2. Warm homes for all, with lower bills and no fossil fuels
    
3. Clean, affordable renewable energy for people, not data centres and big tech
    
4. Affordable, reliable, and accessible fossil-free transport
    
5. A fair deal for family farmers, to feed Ireland and restore nature 

Friends of the Earth has asked UCD’s Earth Institute to convene academic experts to assess all the party manifestos against our 5-point programme and we will be publishing that assessment in advance of the election on 29 November.

The Leaders’ Hustings on Climate Action takes place on Wednesday 20 November. It is co-hosted by Friends of the Earth, the DCU Centre for Climate and Society and the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition. It will be chaired by Pat Leahy, Political Editor of the Irish Times.