The climate crisis is the greatest challenge we face. Ireland’s emissions of the greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change are far too big for our population size. Our dependence on dirty and depleting fossil fuels leaves us vulnerable and unprepared for the future. The effects of this are being felt hardest in developing countries.
But we have the power to change this!
Did you know that …
Among rich countries, Ireland is the 6th most polluting per person. If everyone lived the Irish we would need 3 planet earths to survive.
Oil is one of the largest contributions to our carbon emissions, providing 89% of our energy. In Ireland we consume the equivalent of 13.2 barrels of oil per person each year. In Ethiopia, 0.17 barrels of oil are consumed by each person. We must rethink our reliance on imported fossil fuels.
We have committed to at least a 20% reduction of our greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 to meet our EU targets. This can be achieved by passing a strong climate law that ensures Ireland does its fair share to prevent runaway climate change. The average Irish person is responsible for 17 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions compared to the Ethiopian average of 1 tonne.
Ireland also has a responsibility to people in developing countries who are already feeling the impacts of climate change. They need adequate financial support to survive the impacts of climate change – a crisis they played no part in creating.
Stop Climate Chaos – a coalition of civil, development and faith organisations – has printed a How Green is Ireland? leaflet, which includes a postcard to send to the Taoiseach, urging him to ensure Ireland achieves the necessary reductions in CO2 emissions. If you would like copies of these leaflets to distribute in your locality, let us know at [email protected]. Eco-Congregation Ireland is an active member of the Stop Climate Chaos coalition.
Stop Climate Chaos calls on the government to:
1. Push for an international agreement to keep the rise in global temperatures to 2 degrees Celsius or less. This means global greenhouse gas emissions must reach their peak and begin to decline irreversibly within 10 years.
2. Ensure Ireland does its fair share to prevent climate chaos by implementing the polluter pays principle and immediately bringing in a climate change law which provides for an annual Carbon Budget and 3% year-on-year reductions in Irish greenhouse gas emissions.
3. Ensure developing countries can access additional, appropriate and adequate resources to enable them to adapt to the current and future impacts of climate change.
4. Ensure that natural environment considerations are integrated into adaptation and mitigation strategies for dealing with climate change.
See a Stop Climate Chaos YouTube video –
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3n2bmhfFPw