Majority of TDs back call for law on climate change

84 deputies sign Stop Climate Chaos Call to Action

As Minister for the Environment, John Gormley, prepares to fly home from the UN climate conference in Bali, Stop Climate Chaos has announced that a majority of TDs now back their call for a law to make sure Ireland does its fair share to tackle climate change. Minister Gormley has already promised to allow debate on a Climate Protection Bill next week in the Seanad. Stop Climate Chaos is now urging the Government to move the bill to Committee Stage where all parties could work out a basis for it to become law.

Dr David McNair, Policy and Advocacy Officer at Christian Aid Ireland, said:
"It is the poor who are most vulnerable to the effects of Climate Change. Ireland has a great track record on supporting development in Africa and elsewhere, but increased drought, famine and natural disasters will undermine that support. This bill is an opportunity to make sure that Ireland's development aid isn't undermined by our contribution to climate change."

The Stop Climate Chaos Call to Action has received cross-party support since its launch in April. Dara Calleary, the Fianna Fail vice-chair of the new Oireachtas climate change committee became the 83rd TD to sign up this week and Enda Kenny, leader of Fine Gael, was the 84th. All 20 Labour TDs have personally signed the Call to Action as have all Sinn Fein TDs. All the deputies on the Oireachtas committees on Climate Change and Energy Security, and Environment and Local Government have also signed.

Oisin Coghlan, Director of Friends of the Earth, said:
"The Government is committed to an all-party approach to climate change. There could be no better expression of that than an agreed Act of the Oireachtas. The Climate Protection Bill is a good starting point. The 26 organisations in Stop Climate Chaos urge the Government to move the Bill to committee where all sides can get on with the business of agreeing the way forward. We need to give our climate commitments the force of law."

The Climate Protection Bill was tabled by independent Senator Ivana Bacik in October. The second stage debate was adjourned without a vote when Minister Gormley promised government time between the Bali conference and Christmas for further consideration of the Bill. Putting climate policy on a statutory footing is emerging as international best practice. California already has legally binding targets and a climate bill is due before the British parliament in the Spring.

The Stop Climate Chaos Call to Action also commits the signatories to pressing for an international deal to prevent global warming of more than 2 degrees, introducing comprehensive carbon pricing in Ireland and supporting developing countries to cope with the consequences of the climate change we have already caused.

As well as the parliamentary leaders of Fine Gael, Labour and Sinn Fein, three Ministers of State have also signed the Call to Action: Tony Killeen, Michael Ahern and John McGuinness. Tony Killeen is Minister of State with special responsibility for energy and environment. 26 Government backbenchers have signed-up including Barry Andrews, Joe Behan, Ciaran Cuffe, Sean Fleming, Darragh O'Brien and Mary O'Rourke. A petition backing the Call to Action, signed by 22,847 members of the public was presented to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern last week.

Notes:

1. Click here for the text of the Call to Action.
2. Click here for the full list of TDs who have signed up.
3. Stop Climate Chaos is a coalition of civil society organizations campaigning to ensure Ireland does its fair share to prevent runaway climate change.
4. The members of Stop Climate Chaos are: ActionAid, Afri, An Taisce, Cap and Share, Christian Aid Ireland, Climate Action Ireland Platform (CAIP), Comhlámh, Concern, Council of Social Responsibility - Methodist Church in Ireland, Cultivate, Eco-Congregation, Eco-Unesco, Feasta, Friends of the Earth, Gorta, Just Forests, Kimmage Development Studies Centre, Mountmellick Environment Group, National Youth Council Ireland, Oxfam Ireland, People Against Climate Change, Students Action on Climate Change, Sustain West Cork, Trócaire, Voice.