‘Ireland must go to war against climate change’

THE Greens last night insisted Ireland must go on to a “war footing” to avoid economic and environmental disaster in the wake of a major probe into the consequences of climate change.

Party leader Trevor Sargent attacked the Government for “dodging” the issue and demanded urgent action to protect living standards and prevent potential ecological catastrophe.

The call followed dire predictions in a major report by chief economist at the British Treasury, Sir Nicholas Stern, who warned failure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions risks raising average temperatures by more than five degrees Celsius.