According to The Irish Examiner, Ireland’s next government faces a stark warning about the urgent need to accelerate climate action, even if it means making tough and potentially unpopular decisions.
Professor Peter Thorne, who heads the Icarus climate research centre at Maynooth University and sits on Ireland’s Climate Change Advisory Council, has delivered a clear message: the current pace of implementing climate measures is falling far short of what’s needed.
The climate expert emphasized that the incoming administration must take a markedly different approach from the previous coalition government, which has been criticized for its slow progress on environmental policies.
“The pace of change has been nowhere near fast enough,” Thorne stated, highlighting the growing gap between Ireland’s climate commitments and actual progress. His comments come at a crucial time as Ireland prepares for new leadership amid mounting global pressure to address climate change.
The warning carries particular weight as Ireland continues to struggle with meeting its emissions reduction targets, despite increasing public awareness about climate change. While some measures might be politically challenging or uncomfortable for voters, Thorne suggests that postponing action will only make future adjustments more difficult and costly.
This stark assessment serves as a reminder that whoever forms the next government will need to prioritize climate action, even when faced with competing political pressures and economic challenges.