Climate Bill will help Ireland tackle global climate crisis

Trócaire today welcomed the publication of the new Climate Bill, saying its implementation will see Ireland play a much enhanced role in tackling the global climate crisis. The overseas development agency has been campaigning for stronger climate legislation for over a decade as the impacts of climate change worsen in the world’s poorest countries.

Trócaire CEO Caoimhe de Barra said:

“Ireland has long been considered a climate laggard due to a lack of political will to step up to the plate. Our reputation has been damaged by our refusal to take the steps required to reduce Ireland’s contribution to this global crisis. The publication of this Bill is hopefully a step in the right direction towards contributing to the alleviation a crisis that every country in the world needs to be taking action on.

“Trócaire sees the impact of climate change in the developing world every day. In Southern Africa, drought is having a devastating impact on food production. In Zimbabwe, for example, upcoming harvest is expected to be less than half the national requirement. Meanwhile, 600,000 people in South Sudan have been displaced by flooding.

“An estimated 270 million of the world’s poorest people face food shortages over the coming months. We welcome the publication of this Bill as a step towards Ireland playing its role in tackling the climate crisis. It is critical that the final bill is fair and effective and includes the key provisions from last year’s Joint Committee report. Ireland, like the rest of the world, is in a deeply uncertain time but taking action on climate change will open new opportunities, protect us from the worst climate impacts in the years ahead, and see us play a role in tackling this global crisis.”