Groundhog Day with Climate Action Plan Delay
Responding to the confirmation of reports that Cabinet will not approve the Climate Action Plan 2023 before the Dáil and Seanad rise, Labour Leader and Spokesperson for Climate Ivana Bacik TD has called for an end to the constant delay of climate action initiatives.
Deputy Bacik said,
“It feels like Groundhog Day again, with the confirmation that Cabinet will not approve the new Climate Action Plan before the Dáil and Seanad rise for Christmas, despite it being due for publication last month.
“The last Climate Action Plan was late. Earlier this year, despite assurances from the Government, the sectoral emissions ceilings were not approved before the Oireachtas rose for the summer. Last year, there were considerable delays to the publication of our carbon budgets.
“Climate action has to be a priority, not an afterthought. Everything we do needs to be considered through the lens of climate.
“This afternoon, I raised this matter with the Taoiseach in the Dáil. I outlined to him the unfairness of continually publishing these plans at the last minute, thus depriving opposition politicians, activists, and others of an appropriate forum to debate them.
“In response, he called for collective resolve and for the Opposition to support the effort to secure the future. I agree with him on the need for collective action. However, doing business in this way is antithetical to that principle of cooperation.
“The Government must address this democratic deficit, and it must begin to prioritise climate action. Publishing yet another significant plan the week before Christmas, when the Oireachtas is not sitting, does not indicate to me that these lessons have been learned.”