Ireland will face major economic and demographic upheaval unless the government acts now to introduce ambitious climate laws. That’s according to Stop Climate Chaos (SCC) – a coalition of 28 civil, development and faith organisations, including Eco-Congregation Ireland.
SCC was responding to the publication of a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the UN body for the assessment of climate change. The report was prepared by over 800 leading scientists from 39 different countries over the past two years.
According to SCC, the findings of the report could spell chaos for Ireland’s economy.
“We often downplay the risks from climate change in Ireland because we enjoy a temperate climate, we’re a small island nation, and we feel we won’t be directly affected,” said Oisín Coghlan, a spokesperson for SCC. “But the truth is that, unless our government takes immediate steps to address climate change, not only will the environment in Ireland suffer, but so too will our economy and our quality of life.
“If climate change continues unchecked, the weather in Ireland will become more volatile. Extremes of heat and cold – such as we experienced in 2010 and 2011 – would be much more frequent. Our summers would be warmer, but our autumns would be wetter, and floods would be commonplace.
“In the parts of the world most affected by climate change – for example, low-lying states like Bangladesh – there will be major movements of people. The phenomenon of ‘climate refugees’ will grow and Ireland – with its temperate climate – is likely to be viewed as a safe haven. So, in addition to the impact on our economy of climate change disruption in other parts of the world, we could also be looking at unprecedented levels of migration, and at supporting a larger population here.”
Coughlan called on the government to strengthen its proposed climate legislation in response to the IPCC report.
“The Government published Heads of a new Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill earlier this year. In advancing this legislation, they must ensure there are clear targets for emissions reductions and provision for a properly independent committee to oversee progress. Otherwise, any new law will only be paying lip-service to tackling climate change.”
Climate Scientist Professor John Sweeney of NUI Maynooth spoke at a briefing held by SCC on the day of the IPCC report’s publication. He said: “The IPCC report is the most comprehensive, authoritative and scrutinised report on climate change that has ever been written. Scientists are now as positive that climate change is real and caused by humans as they are that smoking causes cancer.
“The report shows that global surface temperatures have risen by almost a degree in the last century. In the 250 years since the Industrial Revolution, mankind had emitted half a trillion tonnes of carbon by burning fossil fuels – a process that has caused atmospheric carbon dioxide levels to rise by 40 per cent. We are on track to release another half trillion tonnes in the next few decades, and this would result in a major jump in global temperatures.
“The focus must now be on ensuring comprehensive government action that averts the worst impacts of climate change. Governments throughout the world must urgently implement plans to reduce emissions, encourage clean energy and discourage the use of fossil fuels.”
“It is also important to stress that there is an opportunity for Ireland here,” added Professor Sweeney. “We should incentivise private investment in a low-carbon economy and encourage our highly-skilled and entrepreneurial tech sector to focus on developing alternatives to fossil fuels.
“Our current depressed economic state presents a chance to rebuild in a more sustainable way. We are a small, nimble country that can react quickly, take advantage of opportunities and position ourselves to make sure we’re not a big loser because of climate change. We have the talent and the potential to become leaders in a new, low-carbon industrial revolution, powered by innovative technologies.”
Full details of the IPCC report are available at: www.ipcc.ch.