Minister Hogan must abide by Programme for Government on Climate Change
Posted by Bronwen Maher on November 06, 2011 at 11:34 AM
Minister Hogan must abide by the Programme for Government and introduce a climate change bill. Only weeks before the UN climate conference in Durban, I am shocked at the apparent backtracking of Minister Hogan on climate change commitments promised in the Programme for Government.
Labour Party members voted to enter government with Fine Gael on the basis of that Programme for Government, and the commitment to a climate change bill is one of the most important parts of that agreement. To break this commitment would be to break the trust of that agreement with the Labour Party.
Minister Hogan's attitude to this issue is all wrong. The 21st century race is on in building a green economy, that is where the sustainable jobs of the future are to be found. A strong climate change bill would have a transformational impact on the Irish economy.
Northern Ireland is finalising what has been described by campaigners as a ‘world class’ Climate Change Bill based on Scottish legislation. The Republic should follow suit, and aim to be on a par with climate laws introduced in the North. Climate change does not recognise borders, it is an all-island concern and it would be nonsensical for the Republic to have climate laws that fell short of standards north of the border.
Scotland’s climate change bill improves on the UK bill in setting higher targets. While business and the farming sector have concerns about the impact of such legislation, if the UK, Scotland and Northern Ireland agree that tackling Climate Change is compatible with a strong and healthy economy, Ireland should adopt the same approach.
There is a clear economic win-win involved in pursuing higher targets too. Reductions in CO2 emissions of 30 per cent or even higher would have a revolutionary impact on the Irish economy. It would help create the dynamic and the demand needed to drive the development of the clean energy sector, leading to an increase in indigenous and sustainable green jobs.
Information:
Nessa Childers MEP is a member of the Parliament's Environment Committee, which legislates for climate policy in Europe.
The EP Environment Committee voted that the EU should aim beyond its current 20% emissions reduction target for 2020. Doing so would be in its own economic interest, given the benefits of "green jobs, growth and security".
The Programme for Government states "We will publish a Climate Change Bill which will provide certainty surrounding government policy and provide a clear pathway for emissions reductions, in line with negotiated EU 2020 targets."
http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/eng/Publications/Publications_2011/Programme_for_Government_2011.html
The Scottish Parliament Act sets in statute the Government Economic Strategy target to reduce Scotland's emissions of greenhouse gases by 80 per cent by 2050. The Act also establishes an interim target for 2020 of at least 42 per cent reductions in emissions. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/11/12115041/0
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