Climate Strategy is tinkering when we need transformation

Friends of the Earth has described the government's new climate change strategy, as lacking credibility and "tinkering when what we need is transformation". According to the government's own figures, even if all the policies and plans announced today are implemented successfully by 2012, Ireland's climate pollution will only drop from 25 per cent above 1990 levels to 22 per cent above 1990 levels.

Oisin Coghlan, Friends of the Earth Director said: "This climate strategy lacks credibility as the government failed to implement so much of the last plan, published seven years ago. The only way to make sure Ireland meets its climate targets is to enshrine them in law and provide for annual reductions. Friends of the Earth will be publishing a climate protection bill shortly and asking all the political parties to support it in the run up to the general election".

Under Kyoto this government committed to limit the rise in our emissions to 13 per cent above 1990 levels. And with the EU Ireland is now commited to reducing our emissions to at least 20 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020 and at least 60 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050. That means reducing our pollution from today's 70 million tonnes (Mt) to 45Mt in 2020 and 20Mt in 2050. In today's strategy the government admits it has no policies or plans to get us down below 64 Mt.

"This plan is wholly inadequate to the challenge ahead. We need a sea-change in how we live, work and travel in Ireland if we are to do our fair share to prevent climate chaos. A climate protection act can be the driver for the required innovation in public policy and private enterprise, " Mr Coghlan concluded.