New 'Road Map' To Address Climate Crisis Published

A new "road map" to address the growing climate crisis has been published by Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Communications, Climate Action & Environment Timmy Dooley.

Welcoming the completion of a report from the Joint Committee on Climate Action, Deputy Dooley, said: "Over the last eight years Fine Gael have failed to address climate change from a policy perspective. The window to act on climate change is closing rapidly. Our younger generations are rightly demanding urgent coordinated action from the Government. This report is a good report which sets forward the pathway to address the massive climate issues we face but will require the government to now take action.

"Ireland has been without a coordinated strategy to tackle its growing emissions and coming under increasing pressures from Europe. This Government needs to understand that delayed action only means higher costs and greater burdens which will fall heaviest on the next generation.

"Fianna Fáil insisted that prior to the introduction of any increase in carbon tax the government will have to introduce specific policy measures to protect those who may not be able to transition away from fossil fuels due to fuel poverty.

"Additionally, any taxes raised from a carbon tax will have to be ring fenced in legislation and used to assist those in fuel poverty and to increase supports and incentives to assist people to change their behaviour away from the usage of fossil fuels.

"There are numerous recommendations from this report which the Government must action if we are to respond to this crisis in a meaningful way.

"The cross-party report sets out the need for Government to radically improve its approach and achieve a decarbonised society that will bring economic, health and environmental benefits. This is an important step in the fight against climate change," concluded Deputy Dooley.