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

Last week, there were high-profile roll-backs on environmental policies from the UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak. He was quickly endorsed by Donald Trump, who said Sunak was smart and climate change was a hoax. I suspect the Taoiseach would regard those politicians as the bad guys on climate while he is in the camp of the good guys. I cannot see Donald Trump having a wildflower meadow outside the White House, if he ever gets back into it. However, let us take the following facts into account. This summer, the Climate Change Advisory Council stated the pace at which the Government is implementing agreed climate policy is not acceptable, given the existential threat and impact. The Environmental Protection Agency confirmed Ireland reduced its emissions last year by just 1.9%. The agency warned that Ireland would achieve a reduction of only 29% in its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, far short of a legally binding target of 51%. If you look at where Sunak and Trump are as one extreme and what needs to be done in society as the other extreme, is it not the case that when it comes to delivery, the Government is, in reality, closer to the Sunak side of the equation than it is to what needs to be done?

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