Stop Climate Chaos seeks to put climate on agenda of the new Programme for Government

Following the General Election, the Stop Climate Chaos coalition, of which

Eco-Congregation Ireland is a member, sent the following letter to the Fine Gael and Labour party representatives negotiating towards a Programme for Government:

Dear ,

As your party works to agree a Programme for Government we are writing to urge you to ensure that strong climate legislation be included within this programme and forms a core part of this Government’s strategy for Ireland’s recovery.

It was disappointing that there was insufficient time to debate and progress the Climate Change Response Bill of 2010. Climate change has not gone away, however, and ensuring Ireland is ready for the challenges presented by climate change and the opportunities presented by the emerging green economy are key issues to be addressed by the incoming government.

The Stop Climate Chaos Coalition is seeking a strong climate law that includes;

• Legally binding targets for 2020, 2030 and 2050

• Targets met domestically without buying offsets

• An Independent Climate Change Committee with the power to publish its reports

The Stop Climate Chaos Coalition is also seeking a plan that ensures Ireland’s financial contribution to addressing climate change is separate from and additional to the overseas development aid (ODA) budget.

Legislation that enshrines emission reductions targets in domestic law will provide the certainty needed for all sectors of Irish society to plan and invest, and provide us with a framework in which the government, civil society and the private sector can discuss and decide how best to share the effort required to reduce our emissions in a way that is effective, equitable and efficient. Furthermore, a strong climate law would establish the institutional framework to support a clean, green enterprise economy and make Ireland a leading location for investment and jobs. In short, strong climate legislation can provide the cornerstone of a low-carbon Irish recovery that is economically, socially and environmentally sustainable.

Effective action on climate change will require a global effort. Creating a strong legal framework for climate policy will show Ireland is finally ready and committed to doing its fair share, and will demonstrate to vulnerable countries already suffering the impacts of climate change that Ireland will not stand idly by at this injustice. This is the biggest contribution we can make to the international negotiations. As a developed country, with vastly

disproportionate emissions for our population size, effective and consistent climate action is our obligation.

The principal of climate legislation had cross-party support in the last Dáil. 86 TDs from all political parties committed to support a strong climate law as part of the ‘Climate Commitment’ initiative by Stop Climate Chaos in 2010.

As the CEOs of member organisations of the Stop Climate Chaos coalition, representing development, environmental, youth and faith-based groups, we and our supporters look forward to engaging with you on your proposals for strong climate action in Ireland.

We look forward to working with you on this important matter.

Stop Climate Chaos, 9 Upper Mount Street, Dublin 2, Ireland

+353 1 6394653 [email protected] www.stopclimatechaos.ie