Government can’t even enforce its own policies on climate action
Labour’s climate spokesperson Senator Rebecca Moynihan has today expressed her deep concern at the revelations that numerous public bodies, state agencies, local authorities and regulators have admitted failing to make mandatory payments to the Climate Action Fund to offset their air travel emissions.
Senator Moynihan said:
“This is a shocking failure of government. In 2020, the government issued a circular to all public bodies requiring them to offset their air travel emissions by making payments to the Climate Action Fund. However, it is now clear that many public bodies have simply ignored this requirement.
“This is a clear indication that the government is not taking climate change seriously enough. If the government can’t even enforce its own policies on climate action, then how can we expect the general public to take it seriously?
“I am calling on the government to take urgent action to address this issue. All public bodies should be required to immediately make payments to the Climate Action Fund to offset their air travel emissions. The government should also carry out a full investigation into why so many public bodies have failed to comply with the circular, and take appropriate action against those responsible.
“The government must also show greater leadership on climate action. We need to see a clear and ambitious plan to reduce Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions and achieve our climate targets. We also need to see a greater investment in public transport and other sustainable forms of transport.”