Ireland must immediately introduce legislation to prevent "runaway climate change" and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, aid agencies said today.
Unveiling their "Stop Climate Chaos" campaign, the coalition of Ireland's main development organisations called on the Government and political parties to ensure Ireland does its "fair share" to prevent climate change.
Members of the coalition include Concern, Friends of the Earth, Trócaire, Christian Aid and the National Youth Council of Ireland.
The coalition's three main demands for change to the Government and Opposition parties are:
- that Ireland bring in a climate change law that provides for an annual carbon budget and 3 per cent year-on-year reductions in Irish green house gas emissions.
- to push for an international agreement to keep the rise in global temperatures to 2 degrees or less. They say this means global greenhouse gas emissions must reach their peak and begin to decline irreversibly within 10 years.
- to support developing countries to adapt to the unavoidable effects of climate change.
"The threat of runaway climate change is one of the greatest challenges we face and so we are seeking to mobilise the Irish Government and the public to take political and personal action in support of these objectives," said Oisín Coghlan, director of Friends of the Earth.
Concern Worldwide chief executive Tom Arnold said: "Developing countries have contributed least to the crisis of global warmingm, yet it is these countries that will be worst hit. Industrialised countries, on the other hand, bear the historical responsibility for causing climate change and should be to the fore in resolving this challenge."
The coalition also unveiled a website www.stopclimatechaos.ie .