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Irish Times view on public mood for action on climate change

This weekend, our fantastic volunteers managed to collect over 500 signatures for Climate Case Ireland. Behind our ‘anti-black Friday’ stall in Patagonia Retail Outlet Dublin, we reached the milestone of 4,000+ people in Ireland stating the case is also ‘in their name’. It shows how more and more people in Ireland and across the world are supportive of strong action against climate change.

The Irish Times, writing on the ‘public mood for action on climate change’, notes a similar trend. In fact, it sees “strong indications that Irish citizens are supportive of collective action”. As the article states:

“The World Meteorological Organisation confirmed last week that there is no sign of a reversal in the global trend of increasing greenhouse gas levels which are driving climate change, sea level rises and ever more extreme weather… The window of opportunity for action is almost closed, the organisation concluded.”

As the article continues: “That warning coincided with Prof Valérie Masson-Delmotte, a lead author in the recent landmark report of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, telling the Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action that Ireland’s high carbon emissions are far above what is required.”

And so it is clear that, if the Irish government is to meet its commitments in regards to reducing emissions and addressing dangerous climate change, strong climate action is required.

“Simultaneously”, As the article holds, “Minister for Climate Action and Environment Richard Bruton conceded that Ireland was well short of target in meeting some of its commitments for 2020. Short-term “compliance costs”to try to close the gap are now likely to be in excess of €100 million; after 2020 the cost will be a multiple of that figure.”

Writing on the potential merit of carbon tax increases, the author concludes: “There are strong indications that Irish citizens are supportive of collective action on climate change, and equally compelling evidence of political inaction. The all-party approach could help to reverse this. The carbon tax initiative should be the first step in a united political response.”

It will be interesting to see to what extent the government will follow through with an all-party approach to climate change. In the meantime, we will continue speaking on the need for climate action in universities, schools and other public spaces across the country. Make sure to sign up to our newsletter and follow us on our social media channels to find out more about these events. Time to show the leaders of our world that we, the citizens, are not only supportive but also demand climate action!