Dáil calls time on fossil fuel exploration in historic vote

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Press cutting from Irish Times

Bill to end offshore drilling licences passes first legislative hurdle

The Stop Climate Chaos Coalition has described the Dáil vote in favour of the Climate Emergency Measures Bill on the 8th February 2018 as “historic”. The Bill, proposed by People Before Profit TD Brid Smith, would end the issuing of licences to explore for oil and gas in Irish waters. It passed the second stage debate and was referred to the Climate Action Committee by 78 votes to 48, with cross-party support emerging to overcome Government opposition to the Bill. Continue reading “Dáil calls time on fossil fuel exploration in historic vote” →

Stop Climate Chaos welcomes the Minister’s commitment to amend Climate Bill

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scc_logo_highresStop Climate Chaos welcomed the statement by Minister for the Environment, Alan Kelly TD, that he will bring forward amendments to the Government’s Climate Bill. The Minister was speaking during the Committee Stage debate, where the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill passed without amendment. Several opposition amendments were withdrawn following assurances from the Minister he will consider the issues raised by TDs ahead of the next stage in the Dáil.

Commenting, Ciara Kirrane, Coordinator of Stop Climate Chaos Coordinator, said

“The Minister’s commitment to amending the Climate Bill is welcome. Now we need to see his proposed changes. The final Bill needs to make clear how much we’ll reduce emissions by 2050, guarantee the independence of the Advisory Council, and ensure Ireland pursues the principle of climate justice.”

Before the Committee’s debate Stop Climate Chaos presented the Minister with a petition from more than 5,000 people calling on him to bring forward amendments that would strengthen the Climate Bill and to ensure it is passed into law before the summer recess. Continue reading “Stop Climate Chaos welcomes the Minister’s commitment to amend Climate Bill” →

Government rejects calls to change Climate Bill as it passes Second Stage

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scc_logo_highresStop Climate Chaos has today expressed deep disappointment at the government’s refusal to take on board concerns about the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill, which today passed Second Stage. This is the first time a Bill designed to tackle climate change has passed Second Stage.

Commenting this evening, Ciara Kirrane, Coordinator of the Stop Climate Chaos coalition, said:

“We are deeply disappointed at the government’s unwillingness to listen to concerns expressed not only by Stop Climate Chaos but by their own party colleagues. Fine Gael and Labour backbenchers have voiced their concerns with aspects of the Bill in the Dáil in recent weeks but the Minister’s statement today clearly shows that none of these issues will be addressed.

“The Government is also ignoring the advice from the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht. Seven of the ten proposals made by the Committee which require changes to the Bill have been disregarded by Government.

“These include some of the most important proposals for actually tackling climate change, such as a long term emissions reduction target and an independent advisory council. Minister Kelly has argued that setting national targets would interfere with the EU process but this just doesn’t stand up. Other member states have managed to pass climate laws with long-term targets, the most recent of which is Finland which passed a climate law earlier this month with an 80% emissions reduction target for 2050. If the Government is going to reject such important recommendations they must find a stronger rational for doing so.”

As the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill now progresses to Committee Stage Stop Climate Chaos is hopeful that amendments that will strengthen the Bill will be accepted by government. Continue reading “Government rejects calls to change Climate Bill as it passes Second Stage” →

Stop Climate Chaos hosts day of action ahead of Dáil debate on Climate Bill

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scc_logo_highresStop Climate Chaos will host a day of action on Tuesday 10th February, calling on elected representatives to strengthen the Climate Bill. The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015 will be debated in the Dáil later this week. It will be the first time the Dáil has debated a Government Climate Bill but the coalition is concerned that the Bill will not deliver the low carbon future it promises unless significant amendments are made.

Ciara Kirrane, Coordinator of Stop Climate Chaos, said

“The coalition was deeply disappointed last month when the Government rejected proposals by the Oireachtas Environment Committee to strengthen the Climate Bill. The recommendations of the Oireachtas committee, which held comprehensive hearings on the draft Bill last year and produced an all-party report, have been ignored without reason or explanation. The Bill will not secure a transition to a low carbon future if the government refuses to do the bare minimum recommended by their colleagues, such as defining what ‘low carbon’ actually means.

“It is clear that our concerns are shared by many members of the public. We’ve had a terrific response from people all across Ireland who are disappointment that the Bill does not go far enough. Tomorrow provides a forum for these people to meet with their TDs and express their dissatisfaction.” Continue reading “Stop Climate Chaos hosts day of action ahead of Dáil debate on Climate Bill” →

Stop Climate Chaos calls on the European People’s Party for stronger action on climate change

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PRESS RELEASE

Thursday, 6th March 2014

As Dublin today plays host to the European People’s Party congress, Stop Climate Chaos is calling on the leaders of some of Europe’s most powerful countries to strengthen European action on climate change. The coalition is calling on delegates, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, to increase the ambition of the European Commission’s 2030 Climate and Energy Framework proposal. Continue reading “Stop Climate Chaos calls on the European People’s Party for stronger action on climate change” →

Coalition says EU has rolled back on its climate leadership

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Stop Climate Chaos is deeply disappointed with the unambitious white paper released by the European Commission today on the EU’s 2030 climate and energy framework. With low targets for greenhouse gas emission reductions and renewable energy, and a non-binding target for energy efficiency, the paper is a very disappointing and significant roll-back on the climate leadership previously demonstrated by the EU.

The White Paper proposes a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, a target Stop Climate Chaos argues is inadequate to contain global temperature increases. Ciara Kirrane, Coordinator of Stop Climate Chaos, said today ‘This proposal is not in line with science, and what is actually needed to meet the challenge of climate change. NGOs across Europe are calling for a greenhouse gas emission reduction target of at least 55%. If ambition is not raised, the EU’s international pledge to stay below 2 degrees of global warming is all but impossible’. Continue reading “Coalition says EU has rolled back on its climate leadership” →

Stakeholders accuse the Government of double standards on the Climate Bill

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Press Release

Climate Bill needs Targets

Stop Climate Chaos, a coalition of environmental, development and faith-based organisations, has today said the Government is operating double standards when it comes to the draft climate legislation. The Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht, tasked with consulting and reporting on the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill before it goes through the Houses of the Oireachtas, is failing to provide stakeholders and the public with an inclusive and transparent process.

Stop Climate Chaos, as well as some members of the Committee, has been calling for the publication of the submissions received by the Committee at the end of April, a request that has been flatly rejected by the Chair of the Committee. With the hearings due to be held in two weeks time, there is no indication of who will be invited to present to the Committee or what their proposals are. Continue reading “Stakeholders accuse the Government of double standards on the Climate Bill” →

Climate Bill Not Strong Enough to Stop Climate Chaos Affecting Most Vulnerable

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Press Release

Justice and peace organisation, Afri, today called the government publication of the heads of a Climate Bill as deeply disappointing as it fails to meet key requirements for the effective tackling of climate change.

Afri is a member of the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition which has repeatedly called on the government to publish a strong bill which has legally binding emission reduction targets, five-year carbon budgets that meet up to these targets; carbon targets to be met domestically, without purchasing overseas carbon credits, and the establishment of an independent climate change commission to advise Government, with the power to publish its own reports. Continue reading “Climate Bill Not Strong Enough to Stop Climate Chaos Affecting Most Vulnerable” →

Vuvuzela Protest: Climate Change Blows!

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Climate Change Blows!Stop Climate Chaos Protest

24th November: 1pm at the Dáil, Kildare Street

Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan prepares to travel to Durban in South Africa for the UN conference on Climate Change at the end of this month. Stop Climate Chaos want to send him off knowing climate change matters to people.  Come down to the Dáil on Kildare Street, Thursday 24th of November at 1pm and join the call.

 

Afri is a member of the Stop Climate Chaos coalition.

The Wave – Come Together to Stop Climate Chaos

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This December, the world’s governments will meet in Copenhagen to negotiate and decide a global climate deal. This deal is crucial to avoid climate catastrophe.

We must call on the government to deliver a fair and safe deal. A deal that keeps the rise in global temperatures to below 2 degrees Celsius. A deal that supports developing countries in their efforts to cope with the impacts of climate change now and in the future.

Saturday 5th of December at 12 noon, thousands of people from all walks of life will flood the streets of Dublin. Join Ireland’s biggest demonstration against climate change. Join the worldwide wave of millions calling for action. Together, we can send a strong and clear message to our leaders: STOP CLIMATE CHAOS.

Assemble: Custom House Quay at 12.00pm
Crashing: Department of An Taoiseach at 1.30pm
Dress Code: BLUE

The Wave launch 231109

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To get involved find out more at www.stopclimatechaos.ie or text WAVE to 0873200900