Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE) | Oireachtas source

New research shows that the world's wildlife populations have declined, on average, by almost 70% in the past 50 years. In Ireland, the butterfly population is down 35% since 2008. We are living through the sixth mass extinction event. The report suggests that land use change remains the driving factor behind the crisis and the loss of biodiversity. In addition, there is overexploitation of natural resources, as well as pollution and climate change. At the root of this is a system of ecocidal capitalism that is concerned only with maximisation of profit and cares nothing for the devastation of the natural environment and the consequences of that for all of humanity. It is good that we have the Citizens' Assembly examining the question of biodiversity loss but the real question is whether the Government is going to take action. I have full confidence that the citizens will demand action, but is the Government going to follow through? For example, will it designate 30% of our seas as marine protected areas? Will it end the model of industrialised agriculture based on monocultures? Will it pay farmers to engage in rewilding and regenerative farming? Will it expand native afforestation?

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