Calls for Irish Government to support global Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty

Independent TD Thomas Pringle has tabled a motion for today calling for the support of the proposed global fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty, which has so far been backed by 12 nations, the World Health Organisation, and European Parliament. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

A Dáil motion calling for TDs to support a global treaty on ending fossil fuel expansion should be supported if Ireland is serious about its climate commitments, environmental groups have said.

Independent TD Thomas Pringle has tabled a motion for today calling for the support of the proposed global fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty, which has so far been backed by 12 nations, the World Health Organisation, and European Parliament.

The Donegal TD’s motion calls on Government to endorse the development of a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, strengthen Ireland’s Fossil Fuel Divestment Act 2018, and discourage financial investment in fossil fuel projects in the Global South, which experiences the worst fallout from climate change.

The idea of a binding treaty separate from anything agreed at Cop28 has gained significant momentum as the UN’s climate change summit went into overtime, with countries deadlocked on the wording around future fossil fuel usage and its phasing out.

Ireland’s Fossil Fuel Divestment Act in 2018, also introduced by Mr Pringle, compels the National Treasury Management Agency to divest investments entirely from fossil fuels within five years after the passage of the law.

The Stop Climate Chaos coalition of environmental, charitable, and civic organisations has called for Mr Pringle’s latest motion to be supported.

Friends of the Earth Ireland chief executive Oisín Coghlan said:

Everyone saw that fossil fuels were the elephant in the room at Cop28. Whatever the final text that’s agreed, the next step will be for countries around the world to break their dependence on coal, oil, and gas. 

"Ireland took a positive step with the passage of the Divestment Bill a few years ago. Now is the time to strengthen it by closing the loopholes that have emerged.”

A separate binding treaty on fossil fuels is needed, whatever agreement is reached at Cop28, he said.

ActionAid Ireland chief executive Karol Balfe said Ireland was a world leader in the introduction of the Fossil Fuel Divestment Act 2018, setting a global standard.

“However, the scope of the Act needs to be widened, which includes making sure that it is entirely fossil fuel free and excludes indirect along with direct investments,” she said.

Separately, Sinn Féin senator Lynn Boylan has introduced a private members’ bill calling for a fossil fuel lobbying code of conduct to be introduced, which she claims would “rein in the power” of the industry in Ireland.

“At Cop28 in Dubai, 2,456 fossil fuel lobbyists have been granted access according to Global Witness. Meanwhile, closer to home, fossil fuel lobbyists have been swanning around the corridors of power for long enough,” she said.