On the 7^th of February, the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Amendment) (Climate Emergency Measures) Bill 2018 will reach second stage in the Dáil. This is a Private Members Bill introduced by People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith in November 2017. The Bill proposes to amend the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act 1960 by prohibiting the issuing of licences for exploration of fossil fuels.

The Bill sets out that such action must be taken given the dangerously high levels of CO₂ in the atmosphere due to the burning of fossil fuels. The science shows that the vast majority of already-known fossil fuel reserves must stay in the ground. The Climate Emergency Measures Bill recognises and legislates for the scientific reality that we must stop looking for more carbon-based energy; it is also fully in line with Ireland’s climate and energy obligations and security of supply requirements. The Stop Climate Chaos coalition is calling on all parties to support the Bill on the 7^th of February, to allow it move forward for detailed scrutiny by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action.

When the final stages of the bill to ban fracking were being debated in summer 2017, amendments to extend the ban to offshore drilling were parked in order to achieve a strong and urgent consensus. At the time those TDs urging the withdrawal of the offshore amendments stated the Oireachtas could return to consider the issue of offshore drilling at a later date. Voting in favour of the Climate Emergency Measures Bill to receive detailed scrutiny by the Committee is the opportunity to fulfil this commitment.

You can read the entire briefing here.