Government inaction leaves Ireland unprepared for climate crisis
- State must lead on climate
Labour’s Climate Spokesperson Ciarán Ahern TD has said Government must urgently step up its response to the climate crisis following the latest warning from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). The WMO has confirmed that human-induced climate change reached new extremes in 2024, with some consequences now irreversible. At the same time, Ireland’s Climate Change Advisory Council has highlighted the country’s failure to prepare for major weather events, after Storm Éowyn exposed “Ireland’s vulnerability and lack of resilience.”
Deputy Ahern said:
“The warning from the WMO could not be starker—climate change is accelerating, and some of the damage is now irreversible. The Climate Change Advisory Council has also sounded the alarm, warning that Ireland is woefully unprepared for future extreme weather events. But what is the Government doing? Dragging its heels, relying on climate-denying independents, and failing to take decisive action to protect communities.
“This morning on Morning Ireland, Peter Thorne, Chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council, expressed his frustration that he doesn’t even know if the Government is listening. That is simply unacceptable. Scientists, experts, and communities are all telling us the same thing—climate risks are accelerating, and we are not ready. Yet Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil continue to procrastinate.
“The climate crisis is the defining challenge of our time. It threatens the future of our planet, our homes, our economy, and our way of life. Every year we delay, the cost of inaction rises, and the burden falls hardest on ordinary people. While families and businesses struggle with flooding, droughts, and extreme weather, this Government dithers.
“The end of the fossil fuel era is long overdue. We need a rapid and just transition—one that protects workers, future-proofs our economy, and delivers a sustainable future for all. That requires political will and serious investment, not more empty words. Only the State has the deep pockets and the responsibility to take this on. The private sector alone cannot deliver the scale of change required—we need real leadership from Government.
“Labour is calling for a renewed sense of urgency. We need annual carbon budgets that actually mean something, a national climate adaptation plan that prepares us for worsening extreme weather, and a just transition that prioritises people and communities. There can be no more excuses. The time for action is now.”