Welcome to Post-Carbon Ireland [archive: 2016-05-25]
Watch the launch of the Post-Carbon Ireland initiative
What is this?
Post-Carbon Ireland is an initiative from a group of leading Irish academics, to address the critical issue of climate action at an Irish society-wide scale. The initiative was launched initially during the 2016 general election campaign, and now continues following the establishment of a new Government by the 32nd Dáil.
In the face of the planetary-scale emergency now posed by climate change, we are proposing one key action that we believe all parties and individual members of both the Dáil and Seanad should be able to unequivocally support: the immediate establishment of a Citizens’ Convention for a Post-Carbon Ireland.
We suggest that only such a convention can enable the sustained, citizen-led, engagement that is now essential to unite all of society in planning and creating a just, managed, transition to a secure, flourishing, and authentically sustainable post-carbon world.
Status Update: 25th May 2016
Following the establishment of a new Government, and the appointment of Deputy Denis Naughten as Minister for Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources, we wrote formally to Minister Naughten, drawing his attention to the call for a Citizens' Convention for a Post-Carbon Ireland, and requesting an early meeting to discuss the initiative. See also the associated press release. We have now received a brief reply: indicating simply that, due to the Minister's "full diary", he is "unable to accede" to our request. While the door is seemingly left open for "any submission", this rather seems to overlook the full submission already provided. This is a disappointing, and somewhat puzzling, response. Nonetheless, we will continue to explore any other channels to achieve effective engagement. We encourage concerned citizens to write directlly to Minister Naughten (minister.naughten@dcenr.gov.ie) to register your support for the initiative.
Learn More
- Read the media release for the press conference and launch event on Friday, 12th February 2016.
- Read the full open letter to all General Election '16 parties and candidates, calling on them to support the immediate creation of the Citizens’ Convention for a Post-Carbon Ireland. This includes the list of all twenty nine original signatories.
- Check the pre-election correspondence with political parties, asking whether they would support the creation of the Citizens' Convention.
- Read the letter addressed to the Director General of RTÉ, inviting him to consider how climate action might be most appropriately addressed during the general election campaign, specifically including during televised “Leaders’ Debates”; and his response, confirming that this was passed on "to a range of senior Editorial staff in News, TV and Radio, for consideration".
- See the reaction of Post-Carbon Ireland to the final #ge16 Leaders' Debate: "We [really do!] need a citizens’ convention to devise a post-carbon country".
- Now that the election is over, read Dr. Cara Augustenborg's take away message: "New Dáil must tackle the critically important climate change issues".
How can you help?
Please sign the Post-Carbon Ireland petition at myUplift.ie! In this way every citizen can directly show their own support for this campaign.
Then, don't stop: share the campaign with your family, friends, colleagues and social networks. Tell them to do the same; and ask them to sign the petition too. Or print the petition flyer and distribute it to neighbours, community groups, class mates, or anybody you think might support it.
And now that the election is over, the final counts are completed, and you know who your local TDs are: email them personally, raise the question of climate action, and ask explicitly that they act as a matter of urgency in the life of the 32nd Dáil to establish the Citizens’ Convention. Write, in particular, to: Denis.Naughten@oireachtas.ie, Minister for Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources, and include a cc: to info@postcarbonireland.org
Thanks!