Sinn Féin spokesperson on Communications, Climate Action and the Environment David Cullinane TD has said that taking meaningful steps in respect of Climate Action must involve unprecedented investment in housing, transport and renewable energy.

He said:

“Climate Action is one of the biggest challenges of our time and demands urgent action.

“Sinn Féin is committed to ambitious and realistic carbon reduction targets. This can be achieved through phasing out fossil fuels, investing in renewable energy and prioritising spending on public transport, as well as building homes to the highest energy rating and undertaking an ambitious programme of retrofitting.

“We need to focus on concrete and deliverable measures to achieve meaningful carbon emission reductions – vague promises from parties who lack ambition will not cut it.

“We need a genuine Green New Deal to create jobs in emerging green industries. As we confront the climate crisis, we must also reshape our economy to create a more democratic, equal and sustainable society – the cornerstones of a Just Transition. This will not be achieved through regressive increases in Carbon Taxes.

“This will require significant capital investment to foster innovation, support research and development, and allow for the creation of new jobs and employment opportunities in green, clean and renewable energy enterprises.

“There will also be a requirement to re-orientate the National Development Plan to better align it with the core principles of the National Planning Framework and Rural Settlement Strategy.

”We need to ensure a coherent approach to spatial planning through sustainable regional development, balanced economic development and a coherent all-island public transport plan.

“Sinn Féin is serious about climate action, and providing sustainable jobs, decent homes and investment to develop the green economy are central to our approach. The reality is that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael cannot be trusted to deliver.”