Stop Climate Chaos campaign warns the time to act on climate change is now.
Stop Climate Chaos a new coalition highlighting the need for climate change says Ireland is one of the worst polluters in the European Union. The coalition comprised of some of the country's leading aid agencies, environmental and community groups has demanded action from the next government. Participating groups include Trócaire, Concern, the National Youth Council, Friends of the Earth, An Taisce and Christian Aid.
If global warming has the widely predicted impact suggested by the United Nations, then a quarter of Bangladesh could go under the sea in just a few decades. The projection by development agencies has led them to demand immediate action.
The weakest in the world could be worst hit by climate change.
At a meeting of the coalition Justin Kilcullen, director of Trócaire, says that Ireland must take its responsibility describing the country as one of the worst polluters in the EU.
The government says that action against climate change needs to be balanced against maintaining economic growth.
Gavin Harte of An Taisce points to evidence from the UK and the recent Stern Report on the Economics of Climate Change and says that it makes economic sense to tackle climate change now.
We really have to tackle climate change now, because the longer we put it off the economic costs are actually going to go up.
Niamh Garvey of Christian Aid says that within the next twenty years, we will see droughts in the west of Ireland. She says that it is in our own interests to respond urgently to climate change.
The immediate aim of Stop Climate Chaos is to put pressure on politicians in the lead up to the general election.
The overall objective is to involve the public in finding solutions to what's described as the greatest challenge facing the globe this century.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 23 April 2007. The reporter is Paul Cunningham.
