Press Release: Environment 15 March 2007

Links to: All Press Releases 2007 2006 2005 2004  2003  2002  2001  2000

Dún Laoghaire, Environment, Justice and Latest Press Releases

Climate Change Report a wake-up call for Government

The Green Party has described the latest report from the Environmental Protection Agency on Climate Change as a wake-up call for Government. The Report states that Ireland will suffer from weather extremes such as flooding and drought over the coming decades as a result of climate change.

Reacting to the Report Green Party Environment Spokesperson Ciarán Cuffe TD stated:
"The Report states that there will also be significant impacts on key areas such as agriculture, forestry and fishery, water resources, infrastructure, the environment and transport. This has to be a wake-up call for the Minister for the Environment Dick Roche and his cabinet colleagues.

"Yesterday, the Minister for the Environment Dick Roche spent the afternoon at a Dáil Committee discussing a Climate Fund Bill that will allow the Government to spend €270 million of Irish tax-payers money on buying our way out of our commitments under the Kyoto Protocol. This is the wrong way to tackle the issue. Instead we need a U-turn in Government policies to provide the following:

-Build on the success of Luas by providing similar projects in towns and cities around the country.
-Smart electricity metering that would allow householders to sell surplus electricity from solar panels and wind turbines back to the grid.
-Higher building standards so that every new home will receive an A+ energy rating.

"Climate Change is a challenge for us all. We need a cross-party approach and we need to change our ways urgently. A new Government with the Greens at the Cabinet table would provide competence and leadership on this important issue.