'Climate Judges' declare Ireland climate hypocrites

As EU Energy meet in Dublin, a new panel of next-generation ‘Climate Judges’ have declared Ireland ‘climate hypocrites’.

A mock court was held outside the Four Courts yesterday (September 20), where they delivered a verdict on Ireland’s climate record, which they say is on behalf of future generations.

The stunt was organised by the Stop Climate Chaos coalition, which is made up of over 40 environmental, development, youth, community, social and faith-based organisations.

The mock charges include: putting the profits of big tech ahead of young people’s future, supporting fossil fuel companies while households face soaring energy bills, and expanding fossil fuel infrastructure instead of phasing it out.

Helen Shaw, Chair of An Taisce Climate Committee, said: “Ireland's ambition to fail on climate means Ireland is deepening our fossil fuel dependency, failing to lead on decarbonisation, and sacrificing the next generation's future. The reality is Ireland has the highest energy costs in Europe while providing billions of euros worth of discounts to fossil fuel companies through subsidies.

“Ireland is permitting data centres to expand through fossil fuel generation while new homes are still being built without renewable energy - like solar panels - included. How can Ireland lead negotiations on phasing out fossil fuels when its own actions are enabling them?”

Jim Clarken, Oxfam Ireland CEO, said: "There is a growing gap between what governments say about tackling the climate crisis and their actions and voting records. Young people are right to call out that contradiction. At a time when Europe needs ambitious leadership on climate action, Ireland cannot claim to be leading the transition while approving new fossil fuel infrastructure and prioritising energy policies that benefit powerful corporate interests over ordinary people. Future generations deserve better."

Ciara Brennan, Director, Environmental Justice Network Ireland (EJNI), said: “Every year of delay is a cost passed on to future generations. The continued delay in publishing Ireland's Social Climate Plan - the very mechanism designed to protect low-income and vulnerable households from rising carbon costs - is a clear sign of that gap widening. Ireland's Presidency has given it a prominent platform to steer EU discussions on energy and climate, but that visibility only sharpens the contrast with its record at home. Ireland should be championing a just and accountable transition, both domestically and across the island.”

Sinéad Loughran, Climate Justice Policy & Advocacy Advisor, Trócaire:

“Ireland’s climate hypocrisy could not be clearer, and the impacts are far from abstract. While facing dire shortfalls on national and EU climate obligations, Ireland is barreling further in the wrong direction by pursuing LNG that would see us locked into fossil fuels for decades to come. Ireland’s climate action failures are actively contributing to escalating human rights harms globally. Around the world, people are losing their lives, their homes, their livelihoods, their communities, and their ancestral lands because of the climate crisis. We owe current and future generations everywhere a safe planet, and our human rights obligations demand it.”

Jennie Stephens, Climate Justice Universities Union, added: “Climate justice includes intergenerational justice, and young people are angry at the hypocrisy.”