A Waterford Senator has appealed to the government to use 2019 as the year to take action on climate change.

Grace O’Sullivan spent time in Nijmegen in Holland last month where all of the public transport is electrified and says returning home was like walking back into the Dark Ages.

She told the Seanad that “it felt like “Mad Max” territory with the steaming, puffing, pumping greenhouse gases into our atmosphere. I felt I was taking a step backwards.”

Senator O’Sullivan believes people here are crying out for action.

“It is the public who are leading the way. We are seeing activists on the streets, students, children and citizens coming out and begging for the Government to take action.

“As many Senators said today, there are many actions that can be taken. For instance, we see the roll-out of photovoltaic solar energy technologies. The farmers want it and are asking for it. They are begging to diversify.
“This is one way where they can be supported to have renewable energy technologies and not only to contribute positively to the issue of climate but to get a dividend in return. Therefore, many actions can be taken.”

She appealed to the minister to stop issuing licences for exploration and exploitation of greenhouse gas emitting fossil fuels.

“Only last week, the Minister was giving out more licences for exploration and exploitation of greenhouse gas emitting fossil fuels. He said that 91% of transport in Ireland depends on fossil fuels and I believe 71% of households depend on fossil fuels.

“I recognise that we have a large step to take but we do not see action, such as farmers being supported with renewable technologies, industries being supported, public buildings with a photovoltaic system or that type of roll-out. Rather, we see a contradiction where licences are being issued to enable companies to continue to exploit and extract fossil fuels when we know fossil fuels must stay in the ground.

“Whatever licences are already in place are fair enough, although I hate saying that, but we must stop issuing further licences to explore or exploit.”

Senator O’Sullivan told the Seanad that “we must recognise that we are talking about climate change and ecosystem breakdown”.

“There has been a 50% loss of species on the planet in the past 40 years. I listened to the Minister’s speech… He is still talking the talk but we are not seeing action.

“I am a member of the Joint Committee on Climate Action, and I would like the continuation of the committee in the future because climate change is the most pressing issue, not only in Dublin, Ireland or Europe but globally.
“We must keep the pressure on. The Green Party and I will gladly work with the Minister and we will give him every support we can in this area, but we want to see the Government doing a bit of the work.”