The following declaration on climate action was agreed by the Youth Assembly on Climate sitting in Dáil Éireann on Friday and formally presented to Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl for forwarding to the Government and all members of the Oireachtas:
"We, the youth of Ireland, call on our elected representatives and on adults to listen. We put forward our Recommendations for action to stop climate breakdown. We are NOT experts. In our Recommendations we offer ideas but we do NOT have all the answers.
“It is a starting point for adults and particularly for those elected to protect and progress our society. We call on you to listen to the science, to take on board our Recommendations and to work on our behalf to ensure that we – and you – have a future.
Iarraimidne, óige na hÉireann, ar ár n-ionadaithe tofa agus ar dhaoine fásta éisteacht linn. Cuirimid chun cinn ár Moltaí chun gníomhú chun stad a chur le cliseadh aeráide. NÍ saineolaithe sinn. Inár moltaí, cuirimid smaointe ar fáil ach is fiú dúinn a rá NACH againn atá na freagraí ar fad.
“Is ceann tosaigh é seo do dhaoine fásta agus go háirithe dóibh sin a toghadh chun ár sochaí a chosaint agus a chur chun cinn. Iarraimid oraibh éisteacht le fianaise na heolaíochta, glacadh lenár Moltaí agus oibriú thar ár gceann chun a chinntiú go mbeidh todhchaí romhainn – agus romhaibhse freisin.”
Recommendations
1. From your corner store to your supermarket, we call on the house to incentivise and obligate the installation of glass doors on open refrigerators.
2. For Ireland to ban the importation of fracked gas and invest solely in renewables.
3. Implementing measures that will allow that Irish goods be both eco-sustainable and affordable in today's Irish market.
4. Implement a tiered Tax on Emissions from large companies including those under capital ETS. This tax must be increased every year while threshold decreases, shifting the burden from individuals to corporations.
5. Investment in industrial hemp facilities to provide a viable, sustainable and alternative land use for farmers as well as employment in rural Ireland.
6. A labelling and pricing system showing the climate impact of food products based on criteria such as impact of packaging and distance travelled.
7. Ireland to outlaw acts of ecocide – being the widespread and systematic loss of ecosystems, including climate and cultural damage.
8. Protect existing forests and make compulsory that at least 10 per cent of all land owned for agricultural uses is dedicated to forestry.
9. A targeted nationwide Information campaign to educate the population about the climate crisis regarding the causes, the effects and the solutions.
10. Mandatory "Sustainability" education from primary level to the workplace including a new compulsory Junior Cycle & optional Leaving Certificate subject."
