Dáil debates

Thursday, 24 January 2019

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions

Climate Change Adaptation Plans

10:45 am

Photo of Timmy DooleyTimmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State has outlined the impact of climate change but the sad reality is that this is the tip of the iceberg of the horrific impacts of climate change. Since 1980 there has been a 50-fold increase in the number of places experiencing dangerous or extreme heat. The five warmest summers in Europe since 1500 have happened since 2000. We are playing Russian roulette with the future of our planet.

When the Taoiseach was elected, he claimed the Government would be taking new initiatives in respect of climate change in the wake of budget 2018. Looking at this Department his assertions are laughable. That is the case across Government. Our transport, energy and home heating sectors amount for almost half of our emissions yet the Government has done almost nothing to move them to a greener future. All the time we see the impact on our economy. The impact on freshwater fishing has an effect on our salmon stocks and the industry around that, which is valued at €100 million based on the 2016 levels. We have to get real on climate change and start extrapolating the impacts of climate change on our economy in a real way.

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