Senator Higgins welcomes government commitment to a green recovery

Alice-Mary with Lucille and other Fridays for Future campaigners in Dun Laoghaire.
Alice-Mary with Lucille and other Fridays for Future campaigners in Dun Laoghaire.

Senator Higgins welcomes Ireland's joining of EU countries calling for an alignment of EU corona virus response and Green New Deal. Over the course of the last week, Senator Higgins and other pressed the government to join with other EU countries in calling for this response. 

Speaking in response to the announcement Senator Alice-Mary Higgins said, "I'm really glad that the Government responded to pressure from me, Grace O'Sullivan and other politicians and activists in civil society for alignment between coronacrisis response and Green Deal in Irish response. The EU and the Irish government urgently needs to deliver a climate-proofed response to coronavirus crisis, aligned with the objectives of the Green New Deal & the Sustainable Development Goals." 

In the weeks and months ahead, the government must be held to account on this commitment and challenged on any policy which would undermine a climate safe-recovery. "The response to this crisis needs to make Ireland and the EU more resilent to the climate crisis. Many of the countries hardest hit by corona virus including Italy and Spain are among the 10 other EU countries recognising and demanding that any recovery is climate proofed and aligned with Green New Deal. There is no acceptable excuse for Ireland not to add our voice to this. We need sustainability, not austerity," concluded Senator Higgins.

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Senator Higgins calls on Irish Government to step up on climate justice ahead of COP27

At the Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action this week, ahead of COP27, the Committee heard powerful testimony from NGO's and activists working for climate justice ahead. The Committee were reminded of the stark reality by activist Elizabeth Wathuti who told us that "We are witnessing devastating Loss & Damage right now. From the devastating flooding across West and Central Africa; to the prolonged drought across the horn of Africa that has seen five consecutive rainy seasons fail."

NGOs highlighted the need for a number of policy measures to ensure that principles of climate justice are reflected in our global effort. A proper loss and damage facility, Ireland following Denmark's lead and beginning to make loss and damage payments as an individual country, proper climate finance and a fossil-fuel non-proliferation treaty are some of the key policy measures we were told are fundamental to climate justice.

When officials from the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications came in, I specifically, asked them to ensure Ireland's support for a loss and damage facility for Global South countries and begin making payments as an individual country, I sought clarification that both loss and damage and climate finance measures would be additional to existing aid commitments and pushed for information on how Ireland intends to meet the 30% by 2030 methane pledge made at COP26.

I also sought a commitment that Ireland would support the inclusion of human rights in negotiated texts and a commitment that Ireland would sign the Declaration on Children, Youth and Climate Action.

Those who are already suffering the worst effects of the climate crisis and who have done the least to cause it, have been consistently let down by wealthy countries. Ireland must fight for climate justice at COP27.

Senator Higgins congratulates "tireless" activists on historic equality vote for Northern Ireland

The House of Commons voted today to advance marriage equality and abortion access in Northern Ireland if no assembly is formed by October 21st. 

Senator Higgins said in relation to the vote "This vote is an important and historic step towards marriage equality and abortion rights in Northern Ireland and is the result of the tireless work of activists who have fought for this progress for years".