Demand for news laws to cut carbon emissions

The government must pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to three percent annually if it is to meet G8 targets, environmentalists warned today.

Speaking at the Stop Climate Chaos action day in Dublin, Friends of the Earth Director Oisin Coghlan said Ireland must legislate to ensure the specific G8 target of halving global emissions by 2050 is to be achieved.

Billed as a serious family fun day, Stop Climate Chaos was organised by a broad coalition of social justice groups which included Christian Aid, Trocaire, Concern and the National Youth Council of Ireland.

“Today’s event was a chance for the public to send a message to the government that we want to see real action to cut Ireland’s climate pollution, and above all show the government we want Ireland to do its fair share to prevent climate chaos,” Mr Coghlan said.

“What that fair share is has become clearer after the G8 deal on Thursday, which will see the US join UN talks aimed at halving global emissions by 2050.

“EU Heads of Government, including Bertie Ahern, have already said achieving that goal will mean richer countries cutting their emissions by 60 – 80%.”

German Chancellor Angela Merkel proposed the aspirational agreement at the G8 summit in Heiligendamm last week.

It commits members to participating in UN-based climate talks for a successor agreement to the Kyoto protocol, which expires in 2012, and which the US did not ratify.

“The sort of reductions Ireland needs to make can’t be made overnight, and they certainly can’t be made at the last minute,” Mr Coughlan added.

“That’s why Stop Climate Chaos wants to see legislation that cuts pollution step-by-step, year-by-year until we reach our target.

“If we start now that means cuts of about three percent a year.

About 150,000 people die annually as a result of diseases attributable to climate change, mostly in the developing world, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The Stop Climate Chaos coalition said the consequences for poor nations will be catastrophic unless governments act now to combat environmental pollution.