Climate action is an opportunity, not a burden, says GAP Ireland
Reports today confirm that Ireland will miss its climate emissions-cut target by half. This comes as the world struggles to keep global temperatures below 1.5°C, a goal scientists say is essential to prevent extreme weather, droughts, and threats to food security.
While Ireland has made some progress, it is still far from meeting the scale of change needed to hit its 2030 climate targets. Every year of delay increases the risks of flooding, crop failures and rising social inequality; yet taking climate action now offers an opportunity to create healthier, fairer, and more resilient communities.
To date, much of the public discourse in Ireland on climate change has focused on the price and inconvenience of climate action. But climate action offers a chance to build a fairer, healthier, and more resilient Ireland.
GAP Ireland highlights that climate action can improve public transport and green spaces, make our streets safer and our public spaces more pleasant, and strengthen communities and local economies.
From penalties to possibilities
According to Minister O’Brien, Ireland faces an estimated €28 billion in fines for missing emissions targets. That money could instead fund renewable energy, local community projects, and initiatives that improve towns and cities.
The climate penalties are intended to shake our government into action, but this stick-rather-than-carrot approach has not worked. Ireland now finds itself in the scandalous situation where we are about to waste billions of euros on fines while people’s homes flood, crops fail and vulnerable families pay the price for political short-termism.
This €28 billion penalty is a crisis point, forcing us to rethink our priorities. Just imagine what that amount of money could achieve if it was invested in clean energy, community initiatives, public transport and green jobs.
At GAP Ireland, we believe that climate solutions are everyone’s responsibility:
- At home, we can do our bit by being more energy-efficient, reducing waste, and choosing sustainable travel options like walking, cycling, carpooling and public transport. By making small changes to our diet – choosing local, seasonal and plant-based foods – we can help shrink our carbon footprint while at the same time live healthier lifestyles.
- And we can also do our bit in our local communities. All over Ireland, local groups are busy developing community renewable energy projects, creating green infrastructure such as community gardens and urban forests, and promoting walking, cycling and accessible public transport. Many local grassroots campaigns help people make lifestyle changes, reconnecting with nature and understanding how their choices impact the planet. Circular economy initiatives like sharing libraries, swap shops and repair cafes also are having a great impact, reducing waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Companies and businesses must also step up. They can reduce emissions, and save money, by transitioning to renewable energy, and improving energy and resource efficiency in their operations. Companies can also have a positive impact by supporting flexible work and climate-conscious commuting, and supporting local community groups.
Together, these actions by households, communities and businesses can help build the foundation of Ireland’s transition to a low-carbon, fair and resilient future.
Reconnecting with Nature
Climate action is also about reconnecting with the natural world.
At its core, our failure to take effective measures to halt climate chaos is caused by a fundamental lack of understanding of how our health, happiness and prosperity are entwined with a healthy environment.
We continue to think we can grow the economy ad infinitum, and ignore the costs we are inflicting on our planet, our environment and ourselves. This idea that our lives are separate from nature breeds apathy towards climate goals and perpetuates the habits and policies that harm our natural environment, and cause so much stress and ill health in our population.
We urgently need to stop believing that GDP growth is a useful indicator of progress and prosperity. We need to realise that a healthy environment is essential for a thriving society and, inversely, that economic growth at the expense of our environment does direct damage to people.
True prosperity is rooted in environmental care, not economic indicators. When people feel part of nature, they value policies and lifestyle choices that sustain it. Organisations such as GAP Ireland therefore work to reconnect communities with their local environments, and give people a chance to rediscover the benefits of green and wild spaces.