The Climate Bill, Climate Action Plan, Just Transition and Cop 26

GCCN and GEN Joint Event

23rd November 2021 | 6.30pm | Zoom

On November 23rd 2021, Galway City Community Network (GCCN) and Galway Environmental Network (GEN) hosted a workshop exploring the Climate Bill, Climate Action Plan, Just Transition and COP26 with Dr. Sadhbh O’Neill, Climate Policy and Politics lecturer at Dublin City University, School of Law and Government.

The event aimed to explore how climate change and the policies around de-carbonising the Irish economy impact on us all in the aftermath of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) held at the beginning of November 2021 in Glasgow, UK.

In line with EU ambition, the Programme for Government, Our Shared Future commits to achieving a 51% reduction in Ireland’s overall Green House Gases (GHG) emissions from 2021 to 2030, and to achieving net-zero emissions no later than 2050.

The Government’s Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021 sets to support Ireland in achieving a climate-neutral economy by no later than 2050.

The Climate Action Plan 2021: Securing Our Future was published on Thursday, November 4th, 2021. The Plan outlines the likely impacts of climate change here and across the globe, stating that the impact of climate change will be felt by every individual, household, and community in Ireland. It set out the actions to be taken in relation to achieving what are not legally binding targets.

The challenges, opportunities and significant level of change required by these two major de-carbonisation commitments demand for a Just Transition, as recognised also by the previous Climate Action Plan 2019.

In advance of the event, Ann Irwin, GCCN Co-ordinator stated:

“It is a great opportunity for us to hear from Dr. Sadhbh O’Neill who, in addressing the key points of this seminar, will draw on her knowledge and experience as a previous Policy Coordinator for the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition and as the Campaign Coordinator with Climate Case Ireland, a legal campaign by Friends of the Irish Environment. We will be exploring further her suggestion that we ‘lean-in’ to the outcomes of COP26.”

Resources