Climate crisis now a serious public health issue

Main political parties to gather for a joint Stop Climate Chaos, Friends of the Earth, and DCU Climate and Society hustings on climate change

The Stop Climate Chaos coalition (SCC) is calling on all political parties and general election candidates to commit to upholding the climate law, and deliver urgent policies to tackle climate change, warning that climate breakdown is not just a climate crisis but a critical public health issue as well.

The Coalition today launched its 7 policy priorities to secure a programme for faster and fairer climate action in the next Government. The coalition is calling on all politicians and political parties to commit to taking action on climate and detail the climate policies they will deliver if elected to the next Dáil. 

The Coalition – whose members include many of Ireland’s leading international development, environmental, health, youth, and faith-based organisations – will be calling on political parties and general election candidates to commit to seven priority policies vital to tackling climate change at a General Election hustings tomorrow. 

“The next Government will be responsible for doing what it can to prevent and protect us from climate breakdown. During this election, we need to hear from all the parties how they plan to do that. Voters need to hear how they will uphold the 2021 climate law and whether will they do everything they can to reduce emissions in line with the binding pollution limits to 2030.” said Oisin Coghlan, chief executive of Friends of the Earth. 

According to SCC, an area of massive concern is the impact of the climate crisis on people’s health. 

Mark Murphy, Senior Policy Manager with the Irish Heart Foundation, said: 

“The reality is the climate crisis poses significant risks to public health in Ireland, including the harm caused by air and water pollution, heatwaves, and eco-anxiety, all of which disproportionately affect those most vulnerable in our society and already facing barriers to healthcare.

 “Air pollution causes approximately 1,600 premature deaths in Ireland every year, and extreme weather events such as heatwaves, flooding, and storms threaten our health and can damage access routes to health services and the buildings housing them. Our health, both now and in the future, is intrinsically linked to the climate issue.” 

While Irish emissions have begun to fall thanks to climate law Stop Climate Chaos campaigned for, change is not coming fast enough - and it must be fairer.

“Parts of the state are dragging their heels. Big business is lobbying to delay or derail action, and some politicians are sowing disinformation and division for short-term gain. Progress is too slow and does not reflect Ireland’s fair share of action.” Oisin Coghlan concluded.

In the upcoming election, Stop Climate Choas are calling on the next Government, and all the parties and independents in the Dáil, to commit to the following priorities:

(Full briefing on SCC election’s demands is online here) 

1. Government leadership, action, and accountability to ensure a just and green transition
2. International climate action that is fair and funded
3. Warm homes for all, with lower bills and no fossil fuels
4. Clean, affordable renewable energy for homes, not data centres and big tech.
5. Affordable, reliable, and accessible fossil-free transport  
6. A fair deal for farmers, to feed Ireland and restore nature and
7. A rapid response to the climate crisis as a critical public health issue

Siobhan Curran, Head of Policy and Advocacy with Trócaire said: 

“Ireland’s climate finance is still only a fraction of our fair share of international climate finance owed to Global South countries facing the greatest impacts of climate change. The reality is too many people are being left behind. Ireland’s inadequate climate action is leaving people in Ireland cold and leaving those in the global South to face devastating impacts of a crisis they did not cause. Our new Government needs to put justice at the heart of climate decisions, in Ireland and globally.

“We must always remember that there can be no climate justice without respect for human rights. We must keep pressure on for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and reject destructive and polluting militarism. 

Collette McEntee, Project Coordinator of Feminist Communities for Climate Justice with the National Women’s Council and Community Work Ireland, said: 

“The incoming government must ensure that gender equality is at the heart of all climate policies and actions, guaranteeing women equal access and decision-making power, prioritising their unique needs in climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. 

“To achieve a truly just transition, the next government must recognise and value care work, predominantly carried out by women, as inherently low-carbon, green work and key to our just transition. It is also vital that communities, especially those most marginalised - Travellers, disabled people, older people, people seeking international protection, and more - are meaningfully included and represented, ensuring their voices are central.”

DCU Climate and Society, Friends of the Earth, and SCC's Election Hustings 

On Wednesday in the Royal Irish Academy, SCC will host a joint Climate and Environment Hustings with Friends of the Earth and DCU Climate and Society. The hustings will feature representatives for seven political parties and will be chaired by Pat Leahy, the political editor of the Irish Times. They will also be livestreamed here: https://www.youtube.com/live/l4oU8bhnBwQ?si=hmUP1MlQOh5zjaMG

The event will provide an opportunity for the public to hear directly from political parties about their climate action plans.