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Opposition parties have condemned the Government for failing to provide sufficient commitment to a \u201cjust transition\u201d in the forthcoming Climate Action Bill.<\/p>\nOpposition parties have condemned the Government for failing to provide sufficient commitment to a \u201cjust transition\u201d in the forthcoming Climate Action Bill.<\/p>\n
The Bill sets out the plan for the State to transition to a carbon-neutral economy by no later than 2050.<\/p>\n
But there are concerns that the legislation does not have sufficient protections for sectors which will suffer job losses as a result.<\/p>\n
Social Democrats climate spokeswoman Jennifer Whitmore said: \u201cThe minister says that the principles of just transition are contained in the Bill.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re absolutely not though \u2013 it\u2019s referred to once in the entirety of the Bill, there is no definition for it, there\u2019s no guidance as to what it means.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that this is a golden opportunity to incorporate it fully into the Bill, and to ensure that we meet our targets in a fair manner.\u201d<\/p>\n
She told the Oireachtas Committee on the Environment on Tuesday: \u201cIt needs to be a very proactive and targeted, focused approach taken with this.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt can\u2019t happen afterwards because it won\u2019t happen properly. A reactive transition is not a good transition, and it won\u2019t happen organically.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Program for Government commits to a Just Transition Fund to retrain workers and generate sustainable employment in green enterprise.<\/p>\n
Labour TD Duncan Smith said the commitment in the Program for Government is not sufficient, and needs to be underpinned by legislation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t see it to the extent with which we are comfortable or confident that it\u2019s actually going to make a real difference,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cWhat was written in the Program for Government will remain an aspirational document until it is reflected in legislation and other actions from Government.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are not seeing that in this, as it\u2019s currently being presented and debated.\u201d<\/p>\n
There have been significant job losses at Kildare-based Bord Na M\u00f3na, as it transitions from a producer of peat briquettes to a climate solutions company.<\/p>\n
Independent TD Carol Nolan, who represents the Laois-Offaly constituency, where much of the firm\u2019s peat was harvested, said these jobs have not been replaced.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s happening on the ground, and I can tell you from one of the counties most affected by your transition \u2013 Co Offaly \u2013 it\u2019s not just, it\u2019s far from it.<\/p>\n
\u201cCounty Offaly will be bearing the brunt of the greatest job losses \u2013 53 per cent of all job losses in the Midlands will be in County Offaly.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot one single job has been created, so it\u2019s very difficult to see when you\u2019re detached from something, but I\u2019m there on the ground, speaking to the workers, speaking to the community day in, day out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Independent TD Denis Naughten, a former climate minister, noted that the legislation as it stands only requires the minister to have regard to a just transition.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Government of the day, once they actually tick the box in relation to just transition, they can proceed and do whatever they like,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Fine Gael\u2019s Richard Bruton, also a former climate minister, defended the Bill and said the proposed amendment gives the impression that \u201cchange is avoidable\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we wait and allow an environment to develop where people feel that we can put off change until another day, then we\u2019ll actually do a disservice to those various sectors and communities that we\u2019re trying to support,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Minister for Climate Eamon Ryan cited the State\u2019s commitments under European law as part of the reason he would not support the amendment.<\/p>\n
He told the Committee: \u201cWe also have to have regard to European regulations which require us to show the socio-economic strategy behind any climate strategy.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo at every stage in the process we have to check to see does it meet our social as well as our environmental and economic objectives.<\/p>\n
\u201cI expect a huge number of community projects to be up and running very, very quickly, to help make this transition happen.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will continue to evolve, we will see further European funding available to support a just transition.<\/p>\n
\u201cCritically, we will go to the next phase of this trust transition process where we will engage with the likes of the National Economic and Social Council, as to how we spread this approach not just in the Midlands, but in other parts of the country.\u201d<\/p>\n