Greens call for climate change action

A change of government is the only way to ensure climate change solutions are introduced in Ireland, the Green Party claimed today.

The party said climate change is still the biggest political challenge facing society and that the best way to address this was to vote for a change.

Speaking in Dublin this afternoon, Green Party chairman and director of elections John Gormley said there was definitely a mood for change among voters, despite the findings of the latest opinion polls which show a major resurgence for Fianna Fáil

"The Green Party is committed to real change and to achieve this, Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats must be removed from Government, said Mr Gormley.

Green Party energy spokesman Eamon Ryan TD claimed there was a need to go beyond discussions about which parties will form the next government and to start focusing on the changes that need to be make in the governing of the country.

"The issue of climate change is top of the agenda at every international summit. The science is now clear; developed economies will have to make radical cuts in their emissions in the next decade to stop the world going past a 'tipping point' which would trigger runaway and catastrophic changes," said Mr Ryan.

"In the lifetime of the next Government we will be faced with much more demanding obligations to cut our greenhouse gas emissions. Buying our way out of the problem is not a sustainable solution."

Mr Ryan added that Ireland's climate change targets couldn't be met without changes to the transport system.

"We need to promote public transport, increase our energy efficiency and introduce new renewable energy supplies. However, none of the other parties have the political will to deliver the necessary changes. It will take a Green Party involvement in Government to get our transport system working right and to push through proper planning and building regulations."