Sir, – The recent fuel protests highlighted that Ireland’s continued dependence on fossil fuels leaves us economically and politically exposed, and highly vulnerable. They also reinforced that a rapid, planned transition away from oil and gas is the only solution to the energy and climate crisis.
The human and economic costs of inaction are mounting in Ireland and globally. Those least able to absorb rising living costs are hit hardest, and climate change is driving deepening poverty and food insecurity.
The impact on women’s rights is profound. When climate disasters hit, girls are more likely to drop out of school. Women face increased health risks, displacement and risk of violence. In many communities, women are responsible for collecting water and drought means longer journeys, more strain, and less time for education or work. Despite all this, women are still too often excluded from climate decision-making.
Amidst the human suffering, fossil fuel companies continue to profit enormously. Fuel shortages made for “exceptional” trading results for BP and Shell in this quarter, and a Greenpeace study calculated oil companies are making €81.4 million in extra profits every day since the start of the war in Iran.
RM Block
Yesterday, Ireland joined more than 50 countries attending the First Conference on Transitioning Away From Fossils Fuels in Santa Marta, Colombia. This is a historic opportunity to set out concrete agreement on ending fossil fuels.
Ireland should use this moment to act decisively. It means backing international efforts to phase out fossil fuels, supporting fair climate finance for vulnerable countries, and endorsing the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. It means acknowledging how debt is crippling poorer countries, addressing the injustice of this debt has to be part of any meaningful action. It also means reducing our own emissions and making our own transition.
In addition, we need to confront our role as a hub for fossil fuel finance, with tens of billions flowing via Irish-based entities in global companies expanding oil and gas production. Our foreign direct investment model is enabling these climate harming flows.
Short-term measures alone will not shield us from future crises. Only a structural shift to clean energy can deliver real security, stability and fairness.
Ireland has often claimed a moral voice on the global stage. Now is the time to take bold action. – Yours, etc
KAROL BALFE,
CEO,
ActionAid Ireland
Dublin 2.
