Stop Climate Chaos

Mass Lobby on Climate Change.

On June 2nd 2010 Just Forests was one of the member groups of the Stop Climate Chaos coalition who took part in a Mass Lobby on climate change. Constituents from all over the country came to Buswells Hotel, across from the Dail, to meet with their TDs. We were asking TDs to commit to supporting a strong climate law in the Dail, when the Bill comes before them this Autumn.

Over 70 TDs signed the climate commitment in Buswells on the day, and several more have signed since then-bring the total to 85 as of 13th October 2010. The climate commitment asked TDs to support our asks of:

- supporting the passing of a strong law that achieves targets by making real reductions in our carbon emissions and not by buying 'carbon offset credits',

- ensuring the independent, advisory climate change committee that is planned as part of the Bill, publishes its reports publicly,

- and, to ensure that Ireland's financial contribution to addressing climate change is separate from and additional to the overseas development aid (ODA) budget.

Disappointingly, Minister Gormley signed the climate commitment only after scribbling out by hand the words, "not by buying carbon offset credits". While it is good to have support on the other points from him, we are not happy that the Minister thinks it's ok to buy our way out of the problem instead of reducing emissions here in Ireland.

Notes
1. A list of TDs that have signed the Climate Commitment is available here:
2. The 84 TDs that have individually signed the Climate Commitment include 26 from Fianna Fail, 26 from Fine Gael, all 20 Labour deputies, five of the six Green deputies, and all four Sinn Fein deputies.

3. The Climate Commitment that TDs signed is available here:

The members of Stop Climate Chaos are: Action Aid, Afri, Birdwatch Ireland, Christian Aid, Climate Action Ireland Platform, Comhlmh, Concern, Cultivate, Dublin Friends of Earth, Eco Congregation Ireland, ECO UNESCO, Feasta, Friends of the Earth, Gorta, Just Forests, Kimmage Development Studies Centre, Latin America Solidarity Centre, Methodist Church of Ireland- Council of Social Responsibility, Mountmellick Environmental Group (MEG), National Youth Council Ireland, Oxfam Ireland, Presentation Ireland, Students Against Climate Change, Sustain West Cork, An Taisce, Trocaire, VITA, V.O.I.C.E.

Laois-Offaly politicians

Brian Cowen (FF) has not signed yet! Please contact him and ask him to join all the other Laois/Offaly TDs who did sign. If you are interested in following up with any of your TDs who haven't yet signed the climate commitment, please get in touch with us or get in touch with the Stop Climate Chaos office in Dublin on 01 639 4653, and they can give you support with this.