FG don’t get it when it comes to climate change

Labour Party Transport spokesperson, Kevin Humphreys, has called on Fine Gael to stop trying to spin away Ireland’s failings when it comes to climate change.

Senator Humphreys said:

“Two years into this Government, Fine Gael have finally woken up to the Climate Change Advisory Council’s warning that Ireland is totally off course when it comes to meeting our climate change targets in 2020 and 2030

“Over the next week we are going to see Fine Gael flog parts of the National Development Plan that deal with climate change under the guise of ‘Green Week’, while key Departments that can help tackle climate change such as the Department of Transport are failing in their responsibilities to tackle climate change. As reported last month, the Department of Transport, has spent less than 2% of money earmarked in their Green Public Transport Fund.

“Today, the Tánaiste has heralded the scheme that will ensure all new buses bought for Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus will be low-emission vehicles, but we know that these companies will continue to buy diesel buses until late 2019.

“Fine Gael are trying to spin away our climate change failures rather than acknowledge a lot more needs to be done to tackle climate change.

“The Labour Party has put forward a number of key practical actions which if we take now would significantly decrease Ireland’s fossil fuel emissions while allowing our society to transition to a more equitable and green economy.

“Climate change demands systematic action from all areas of State and climate action needs to get communities, both rural and urban, all involved. We need to mitigate against the worst impacts of climate change while also adapting to a carbon-free world.

“It is now more important than ever that we in Ireland do not shirk from our responsibility on climate leadership.

“We need to adjust to carbon neutrality in agriculture, and take bold steps towards zero carbon emissions in energy and transport. Ireland has the potential to become a leader on renewable energy, but we need to begin now on transitioning those workers in the fossil fuel industry to renewable energy.

“The State needs to do far more to facilitate the transition to a carbon-free economy and society. The Earth’s climate has been changing rapidly, and its impact can be seen on a local and global level. There is a window of opportunity available to us, which we must act on now with a vision to create a greener, healthier, and more sustainable Ireland.”