During the Friends of the Earth conference, held at Dublin’s Royal College of Physicians, it was stated that politicians are refraining from climate action due to a “vocal minority”. The importance of discussing climate change concerns with electoral candidates was underscored, as the following five years are seen as critical in curbing emissions. This is particularly important in the context of the imminent local, European, and general elections.
The convention’s participants, including Oisín Coghlan, CEO of Friends of the Earth, pointed out a discernible shift in the political attitudes towards climate action. However, there are increasing anxieties regarding potential curtailing of climate initiatives by future governments.
Coghlan argued that politicians are shying away from climate action because of a vocal minority, urging electorates to express their opinions on the matter. Despite this, according to a survey commissioned by Friends of the Earth by Ireland Thinks, Irish public sentiment towards climate change remains relatively unchanged.
Out of 1,704 participants, many are still firmly backing government efforts to reduce emissions, even though sentiments are changing in parts of Europe. Coghlan stressed that there is no evident surge in opposition to climate action, as the percentage of people claiming that governmental intervention is too rapid and excessive has only dropped by a point compared to the previous year.
Professor Hannah Daly of University College Cork said that the spread of false information is inhibiting Ireland’s progress on climate change, warning of the dire consequences if there’s no “urgent course correction”. She suggested that distractions such as the misconception of nuclear energy as a viable solution are creating political and business inertia.
The Green Party leader and Environment Minister, Eamon Ryan, noticed a clear attitudinal change among politicians, first seen at the EU level. He denounced the suspension of the EU Nature Restoration Law after negotiations were finalised, labelling it as a highly alarming event.
In a recent conference, Mr Ryan highlighted the emergence of politics focused on “division and fear” in Ireland, which poses the green transition as a hindrance that needs to be halted. He stressed the importance of the impending local elections, where voters could potentially elect councillors committed to obstructing advancements in green initiatives, such as renewable energy sources, improved public transportation and community revitalisation. He fears this could result in the most unfavourable circumstances and outcomes.
Although his keynote speech was disturbed by a pair of pro-Palestinian demonstrators demanding the halt of special arrangements for United States aircraft at Shannon Airport, Mr Ryan made it clear that Ireland is not allied with Israel or the United States in their current conflict. He emphasised that Ireland condemns the ongoing issues and does not authorise the movement of arms to the Middle East.
In a separate topic, Mr Ryan acknowledged the rights of local residents in Connemara, Co Galway to voice their apprehensions about the impending offshore windfarm at the Sceirde Rocks. The scale of the project, as depicted in a photomontage from a variety of shoreline vantage points, has alarmed the local populace, resulting in a petition with more than 1,200 signatures gathered by Monday afternoon.
Mr Ryan affirmed that all interested parties would have the chance to voice their opinions during the planning phase. He also expressed hope that discussions with locals would facilitate the project’s progress. Despite the opposition, he voiced his support for the project and the development of offshore wind capabilities to achieve our climate objectives.