A climate Bill without targets won’t provide certainty, says Stop Climate Chaos

Stop Climate Chaos, the coalition of 27 groups working together on climate change, has expressed frustration at the weakness of draft climate legislation published on February 26.

The coalition’s main concern is that the proposed legislation doesn’t have targets for reductions in carbon emissions.

Responding to the draft Heads of Bill, Sorley McCaughey from Christian Aid said: “This Bill doesn’t have what is needed to be effective. Without a named target for 2050 there isn’t certainty surrounding government policy and the legislation won’t deliver a low carbon Ireland. It is simply too weak to work.”

“The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has indicated that developed countries, like Ireland, must reduce our emissions by 80 to 95% by 2050. There is no justification for omitting this solid scientifically-based objective from the Bill”, said Ciara Kirrane from Trócaire.

“Economic transition to a low-carbon economy is a long-term goal and emissions targets should be set for every 5 year period up to a decarbonised economy in 2050. Without targets there is nothing in the Bill to drive the transition.” said Ciara Gaynor from Oxfam.

Friends of the Earth described the Bill as “window dressing while your house is on fire”. Oisin Coghlan, FoE Director, said: “A Climate Bill with no targets is like a compass without a needle. It doesn’t show you the way. We cannot support a climate Bill with no targets. It fails the most basic test. It is too weak to deliver the low-carbon Ireland it promises.”

The Environmental Pillar welcomed the publication of the heads of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill but expressed disappointment that “after many months and much to and fro” the Cabinet has published the heads of a Bill with no targets for 2030 and 2050. The Pillar calls for the inclusion of such targets in the Bill. The Pillar also calls for provision to be made in the Bill for the inclusion of non- greenhouse gas forcing agents such as black carbon within the scope of climate targets and policy in Ireland.

“Without targets, the Bill won’t be worth the paper it’s written on,” said Michael Ewing, Environmental Pillar spokesperson. “The reasons for targets in a Climate Change act are two-fold:

“Firstly, emissions targets for the country will provide certainty to businesses that the government’s commitment to a low-carbon economy is firm, and that investing in low-carbon business models makes good business sense. Without certainty, the incentive to move towards investment and clean technology is much reduced. By refusing to include targets in the Bill, the Government is reducing its own influence on business’ decision to move towards a green economy.

“Secondly, the Bill is needed to drive the State’s own decision-making processes. Including targets in the Bill means all Government departments and agencies will be legally obliged to work together towards a national goal. Otherwise, different departments will give it different priorities. Without targets to ensure this concerted effort we will soon be in breach of our EU responsibilities and fail to achieve our EU targets for 2020.”