Time for a “fair, fast and funded” transition say environmentalists
An Ireland Thinks poll has found 56% of Irish people think the “Government is not doing enough fast enough to cut Ireland’s reliance on fossil fuels”, compared with just 21% who think the Government is doing “too much, too fast” [1]. The poll, commissioned on behalf of the Environmental Pillar to mark Earth Day on 22 April, asked whether the Government was doing enough to deliver its commitment in the Programme for Government “to take decisive action to radically reduce our reliance on expensive imported fossil fuels”.
Commenting on the poll results, Karen Ciesielski, Coordinator, Environmental Pillar said:
“The recent hikes in fuel prices have highlighted the social, environmental and economic vulnerabilities of Ireland’s over-reliance on fossil fuels. It’s clear a majority of people want more decisive Government action to get Ireland off fossil fuels.
“The Government should convene the five pillars of social dialogue urgently to discuss how to support a fair, fast and funded transition away from fossil fuels.”
The 56% majority in the poll includes 62% of Sinn Fein voters, 48% of Independent voters, 51% of Fine Gael voters and 44% of Fianna Fáil voters [2]. The only party a majority of whose voters think the Government is doing too much to get off fossil fuels is Independent Ireland at 55%. While just over 40% of Ireland’s electricity comes from renewables, adding transport and heating 80% of our energy still comes from imported fossil fuels, compared to an EU average closer to 50%.
Jerry Mac Evilly, Campaigns Director in Friends of the Earth and Environmental Pillar member, continued:
“For the second time in four years fossil fuel prices are causing social, economic and political upheaval in Ireland. The Government’s response has been to spend €750 million to subsidise fossil fuels. Where is the emergency spending plan to help get us off fossil fuels?
“We need more public transport, school buses for everyone who wants them, safe routes to school for walking and cycling, solar for all with battery storage, a scrappage scheme for oil boilers.
“Instead the Government is prioritising data centres for Big Tech, allowing them to build gas-fired power plants and planning to build a new LNG terminal to import more fossil gas. All of that would lock us in to dirty, expensive fossil fuels for years to come.
Ireland must invest wisely now in climate action, nature restoration, creating a fairer tax system and providing for a just and equal society. The climate and biodiversity crises are interlinked and Ireland also must dramatically increase funding for nature restoration —across peatlands, farmlands, rivers, woodlands, coastal and marine environments, including the passing of Marine Protected Areas legislation. Not only would MPA legislation ensure that vital habitats are protected, it would provide certainty and clarity for Offshore Renewable Energy – providing a win for nature and energy generation and security.
The Environmental Pillar has written to the Taoiseach calling on the Government to convene the five Pillars of social dialogue, employers, unions, farmers, environmentalists, and social NGOs to “to address the social and economic challenges arising from the escalating costs of energy and living while ensuring that solutions are rooted in environmental sustainability”. The Just Transition Commission, which includes representatives from the five Pillars, also recently wrote to Minister Darragh O’Brien with a proposal for a National Climate Dialogue [3], analogous to the National Economic Dialogue but with even more attention given to getting the voices of those less often heard and particularly the most vulnerable in the room.
Oisin Coghlan, Policy Advisor to the Environmental Pillar, concluded:
“The Government’s response to the latest fossil fuel crisis has been to respond to the squeakiest wheels, with the loudest voices and, literally, the biggest wheels. What about the 320,000 households in arrears on their electricity bills? What about the charities providing social care whose energy bills are through the roof?
“It’s time for the Government to take the advice of the Just Transition Commission, convene a national dialogue with all the stakeholders around the table and plan a fair, fast and funded transition away from fossil fuels. Let’s make this our last fossil fuel crisis.”