Ending Ireland’s Apathy to Climate Change

GLOBAL HEALTH WRITES

Citizen Journalist: Colm Duffy

As we approach 2050, the world has significant challenges that need to be tackled to ensure food and environmental security. With the global population set to increase to 9-12 billion the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) predicts that food production must increase by 70% to meet demand. At the same time increased temperatures, rising sea levels and occurrences of extreme weather events will result in reduced availability of arable land and crop productivity.  We need to take action at policy and community level to ensure we adapt and mitigate the impacts of climate change. However, not all countries seem to be on the same page in regards to what these commitments should be, and this includes Ireland.

Fossil of the Day

At the 20^th Conference of Parties (COP 20) in Lima last December, where groundwork for a global climate deal was put in place in advance of the Paris 2015 conference (COP 21), Ireland received the Fossil of the Day Award, despite having made no contribution to the Green Climate Fund (GCF).  The GCF is intended to support adaptation and mitigation efforts in developing countries.  Belgium, Austria and Australia, who also received the Fossil of the Day Award, were shamed into making a contribution. Still, Ireland has pledged nothing to this fund.

Climate Bill

In early 2015, the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill was published by Ireland`s Minister for the Environment, Alan Kelly.  This was three years late, and woefully inadequate. The bill does not include any specific targets with regards to reducing emissions, nor does it include any of the recommendations from the Oireachtas Committee on the Environment.

“The government is unwilling to risk putting itself at a disadvantage economically by taking more than the minimum action required” Mr. Kelly said.  “In bringing forward this proposed national legislation, Ireland will also contribute – and be seen to contribute – its fair share of mitigation effort.”

The key word here, seen, as this government has no ambition in relation to climate change, and
is happy to do the absolute minimum.

Increasing Emissions

With dairy quotas abolished, Ireland is set to increase milk production by 50%, according to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 2020 targets. This will significantly increase our Green House Gas (GHG) emissions. A recent lecture hosted by Teagasc looked at Ireland’s agricultural adaptation to climate change, with an emphasis on GHG emissions. The representative explained that Ireland cannot do anything more to lower GHG emissions without reducing production. When challenged on this, the representative explained that in order to increase production to meet future demand, someone was going to have to increase GHG emissions.  So why not Ireland?

I spoke with Oisin Coghlan, Director of Friends of the Earth Ireland, about Ireland’s attitude towards climate change. He explained that agriculture accounts for over 30% of Irish GHG emissions and the Irish government makes the case that agriculture is ‘special’; in that it relates to food availability and the enhancement of human well-being.  This is an attempt to get agriculture off the hook and have Ireland take less action.

When asked why Ireland lacked ambition to take climate action, Coghlan highlighted that the government is unwilling to risk putting itself at a disadvantage economically by taking more than the minimum action required.

The truth is climate change is now a reality.  It is not a case of if it will happen, but by how much it will change. It is time that Ireland got to grips with this reality, and engaged constructively in the processes that will ultimately impact all of us.

Public pressure over the next few months leading up to the Paris climate conference in December will be hugely important if we want our leaders to reach a meaningful agreement. Time is indeed running out, the opportunity to ensure a safe future for our planet is still within our grasp, but only just. It is time to stop looking the other way, and get involved in ensuring our own future.

This article was first published by Stand.ie on April 30th, 2015. 

Colm Duffy is an active member of the IFGH Student  Outreach Group and interested in advocating for the future of climate justice.  He founded the Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security Society at the National University of Ireland Galway.  

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @colm_duff

Related Upcoming Events: Meeting the Challenge of Climate Justice: From evidence to action is an international conference co-hosted by Trócaire, Maynooth University and St Patrick’s College Maynooth.  Mary Robinson, Bill McKibben, and Jean-Pascal van Ypersele will be keynote speakers at the event.