Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

Let us look at some of the global issues. Part 3 of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC, report is not due to be published until March next year. However, scientists associated with Scientist Rebellion and Extinction Rebellion Spain took a decision to leak the early drafts over the summer. Part 3 states that "The character of social and economic development produced by the nature of capitalist society" is viewed by many political and economic critics "as ultimately unsustainable". In other words, the continued existence of human society is not, ultimately, compatible with the continued rule of capitalism.

It is not surprising that scientists and climatologists are beginning to draw this conclusion, given that 71% of carbon emissions since 1988 are the responsibility of just 100 corporations. How can the Minister and the Green Party continue to defend the capitalist system when it is so clearly at the root of this climate crisis?

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