An Oireachtas Committee has urged the Government to introduce a Climate Change law in advance of the Copenhagen Summit in December.
The all-party committee on climate change and energy security unanimously backed the introduction of the law, and today published its own draft legislation.
Labour TD Liz McManus, who drew up the draft law, said climate change was the 'great moral challenge of our generation'.
She said the effort to meet carbon emissions targets required the Taoiseach of the day to take charge.
The draft legislation would require the Taoiseach to ensure targets are met, establish a Climate Change Office in the Department of the Taoiseach, and establish a multi-annual carbon budget and a carbon dividend fund.
Deputy McManus said no-one doubted the commitment of the Minister for the Environment to climate change, but it was like 'turning a tanker round'.
She said this is like a war effort, and requires leadership from the top.
