Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

My colleagues in Sinn Féin and I are committed to measures that benefit our environment and address the potential catastrophe of climate change. Nobody is immune to climate change. We see its consequences across the globe right now. Around the world, we see a migrant crisis that is due in part to climate change. We see water poverty, polluted seas and rivers and the desertification of land. Floods are affecting the lives of countless people each year.

At home, we have seen climate change affect people across the country, especially those living near waterways and coasts. The need for swift action has never been more pronounced. Our future generations depend on it. Any action that is taken for this purpose will require people to change their habits and embrace diversification. This is fundamental but it must be done carefully. While a framework like the one we are talking about is needed, we must be aware of and cater to the human aspect. We will benefit from our collective efforts only if the poorest are protected from bearing the brunt of the cost. This must be done very carefully. We cannot expect it to work without the buy-in of our workers, families, family farmers and society in general. This is important because it is primarily the poorest who suffer, whether it is through the direct impacts of climate change or the obligations imposed on them to address it. That is why we must examine the fine text of this document. If we do not do so, we might overlook the fact that the term "just transition" does not feature very much, meaning climate justice falls victim to applying only where its realisation is practicable. We can talk about a transition all we like but if we cannot guarantee it is just, we cannot guarantee it will work.

There has been much talk, debate and argument about how we should tackle pollution, climate change and emissions. There are varying views on how to do this but we must all agree that there should be buy-in from everybody.

Once that is the case, we will know we are on the right path. A just transition is identified by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU, as "the policies and investments needed for a fast and fair transformation to a low carbon economy". It means charting a path that assists everyone in making the journey and making a concerted effort to reduce inequalities, but that is thrown out the window by the definition of climate justice in the Bill. It is defined as "the requirement that decisions and actions taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to the effects of climate change shall, in so far as it is practicable to do so, safeguard the rights of the most vulnerable persons and endeavour to share the burdens and benefits arising from climate change". I think Deputies will agree the latter definition indicates that justice will not apply equally to those with less.

We have only to look back a few days to when the increase in carbon tax took effect. It penalises people who could not afford to carry out large-scale upgrading of their homes, that is, those who can least afford the tax. It leads to fuel poverty and is not very just. The range of grants available on both domestic and organisational bases are attractive only to those who can afford large-scale projects. Take, for example, community centres or community sports centres, which form the backbone of many communities. Many of them could do with money-saving measures that solar panels or rainwater-harvesting systems could provide them with. I have been approached about this in my county. When it comes to rainwater harvesting, no specific grant is available for these organisations. If a community facility wanted to install solar panels with a view to ploughing the money saved into further retrofitting in the years to come, it would once more be disappointed because stand-alone projects are not provided for through the communities energy grant scheme.

I appeal to the Government to consider those groups that want to play a part in energy saving and the benefits that go with it. I refer to the approach we must take to ensure that climate action measures are effective. It must bring all our citizens with it, including our agricultural sector. Family farmers are well positioned to contribute to Ireland's reductions and want to play their part, but it is far from certain that the principles of a just transition and climate justice extend to them. It must not be forgotten, amid all our ambitions, that farm families, rural communities, entire regions and a considerable proportion of our exports are dependent on the ability of our farmers to continue with their livelihoods while also effecting these changes. We cannot expect the agricultural sector to adapt to the changes needed without being facilitated in this process.

This is evident in the horticultural sector. Nurseries and mushroom factories in County Tipperary face additional costs to import horticultural peat because they are being prevented from obtaining Irish horticultural peat. A just approach does not extend to them and as a result they find themselves alone in meeting the additional costs of importing peat, along with the carbon footprint involved. This is an example of where joined-up lateral thinking is needed but this, like horticultural peat itself, is in short supply and our businesses are suffering through a lack of support.

Sinn Féin is of the firm belief that aligning labour with social and environmental priorities is a vital ingredient to dealing with climate change. In this regard, the Minister must define what he believes a just transition to be. We have pressed him on this since a draft of the Bill was published in October last. As a result, it is briefly mentioned in the Bill but, unfortunately, is given no prominence and little reference and lacks clarity. Sinn Féin will work to strengthen the Bill's provisions in regard to a just transition and climate justice. We will do this to protect workers and the industries and sectors that will be impacted throughout the island.

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