Next Friday, 20th September, young people across the globe will march down the streets of their cities and towns singing, chanting, carrying banners and placards to demonstrate against impeding climate chaos and the lack of political action to avoid or avert the grave risks we are all facing. This is not hyperbole, it is simply the facts, the scientific consensus. We are destroying the planet and the half-hearted measures proffered by political entities are wholly inadequate to deal with this crisis.
Climate chaos poses great risks to our planet, to food crops, to water quality and to human health. Rising sea levels will have an adverse effect on migration; it is estimated that 10% of the world’s population will be climate refugees by 2050. By 2048 there will be no fish left in our oceans. Young people face an uncertain future and the toll on human life will be considerable if action is not taken, and taken immediately. This is an emergency of unprecedented proportions.
A report published this week described preparations for climate crisis as “gravely insufficient”. One of the main obstacles is a lack of political will to implement the radical changes that are needed.
Ireland has consistently failed to reduce carbon emissions and is likely to face billions of euro in fines from the EU as it fails to meet both its 2020 and 2030 targets. The governmental response to this crisis has been weak and without vision. Government Ministers have been blatantly two faced on the issue, claiming on the one hand that climate action is a priority and even posing for photographs with young climate activists, while on the other hand continuing to issue offshore exploration licenses and preventing the passage of the Climate Emergency Bill.
Government will acknowledge that the planet is in grave danger because of human industry and out of control consumption yet they continue to push the very policies that are causing that damage; like increasing the national herd and handing out licenses for oil exploration. This is hugely irresponsible.
The over reliance on carbon tax as a solution is unsound as a policy. Ring-fencing money to implement good policies is necessary but that is only one relatively small step out of numerous steps that are needed. As it stands a carbon tax implemented by Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil will only serve to push the costs on to consumers and ordinary people. And those political parties will do very little to tackle the biggest polluters. Just 100 companies are responsible for over 70% of the greenhouse gas emissions on the planet and nothing is being done to curtail their behaviour.
The need for radical and visionary policies is now. Our society has to consider huge changes in how it produces, consumes and embraces transition. That starts with the need to stop measuring our society in the narrow parameters of economic growth, profit making and GDP. The pursuit of economic growth has led to a high level of inequality whereby Ireland, as one of the fastest growing economies in Europe, lags way behind its neighbours in terms of public services. We currently have over 750,000 people at risk of poverty and the highest level of homelessness than at any other time in the state’s history.
Taking new and brave decisions is the only way we will be able to stop climate chaos. For example Ireland should be moving forward to introduce free public transport as other countries and cities in Europe are now doing. The fact that the minister for Transport has ruled out this move is an indication of why Ireland is currently the EU’s worst performer on climate action. They have failed to take this seriously.
Unite the Union commends the lead given by international school students and urges those members to come out and support the September 20 ‘climate strike’. There are events taking place across the country and details of actions taking place near you can be found on the Global Strike Action website.
Climate change is the biggest challenge to our generation, and is a trade union issue and a class issue; it is riven with inequality and will leave no part of the economy untouched.
The greatest strength we have is solidarity and organisation, the Trade Union movement has to be a vehicle for the struggle against climate change.
There is no planet ‘B’.
Unite for a Real Alternative 