THE GOVERNMENT’S approach to climate change must be based on principles of fairness and justice, Minister for the Environment John Gormley will say in a major policy speech today.
Mr Gormley will tell the Environment Ireland conference at Croke Park that tackling climate change can only be meaningfully achieved if it is done in a just and fair manner.
“Our approach to climate change – in Ireland, in Europe and globally – must be based on principles of justice,” he will say in the course of his address to the conference, organised by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Mr Gormley will argue that in driving down emissions in Ireland and throughout the world, the poorest and most vulnerable must be protected.
“Globally this means ensuring that those poorer regions of the world, that contributed least to the problem but are most at risk from climate change, are provided with real financial help to adapt to climate change,” he will say.
Mr Gormley’s speech will give a strong indication of the Government’s approach to the UN summit on climate change in Copenhagen in December.
Its position is that climate change impacts will still be experienced even if a far-reaching agreement is reached at the talks and those impacts will have far-reaching consequences for millions of people.
Mr Gormley is expected to pursue a line of argument which favours major reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in Ireland, while emphasising that they will be done fairly, and the most vulnerable in society will be protected.
He will also express his supreme confidence that a carbon levy will work and will also argued it can improve competitiveness by promoting a shift away from fossil fuels.
“I will ensure that the carbon levy, when introduced, will not place additional financial burdens on poorer households who are reliant on solid fuels for heat.
“We must examine closely all of the possibilities, from various forms of hypothecation to our social housing and social welfare systems, to ensure that this levy does not exacerbate fuel poverty problems in this State,” Mr Gormley will say.
Today’s conference will also be addressed by representatives from environmental protection agencies in the US and Sweden. Mary Kelly, the director general of the Environmental Protection Agency will also address the conference.