Dáil passes Climate Bill but campaigners say real test is whether this translates into action

Stop Climate Chaos today welcomed the fact that the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill has been passed by the Dáil but warned that actual measures to tackle climate change are yet to be delivered. The Final Stage of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill concluded this afternoon, less than two months before major UN climate talks get underway in Paris.

Commenting, Ciara Kirrane, Coordinator of Stop Climate Chaos, said:

“The passing of the Bill today is to be welcomed. It is long overdue but its passage in the Dáil draws a line in the sand and means attention can now move to how we as a society will achieve emission reductions in key sectors such as transport and agriculture.

“The Bill does not go as far as it should but some significant improvements were made along the way, such as the inclusion of the principal of climate justice and a guarantee that the climate advisory council will be independent in its duties. National action plans will also be obliged to take into account climate policy, the objective of which is an 80% reduction in emissions from buildings, energy and transport and carbon neutrality in agriculture.

“This Bill also guarantees that future governments must have an action plan for reducing emissions.  The last national action plan on climate change expired in 2012, and it could be 2017 before a new plan is in place, meaning this government will have had no action plan on climate change for their entire term in office. The Climate Bill will ensure this behaviour cannot be repeated.”

The lack of progress on implementing climate mitigation measures has been echoed by the European Commission in a recent report which saw Ireland criticised for having ‘insufficient’ climate related policies.

Ms Kirrane continued:

“With only two months to go until major climate negotiations begin, the government must signal their intention to tackle climate change by setting out their vision and plan for decarbonising our society in the forthcoming Energy White Paper. The government must also live up to commitments made on providing climate finance to the Green Climate Fund. Ireland is one of only a handful of countries that has yet to pledge its contribution to this fund, which was a source of considerable embarrassment at last year’s UN climate negotiations.”