Gorta Welcomes Launch of Government Climate Change Campaign
NEWS RELEASE 29TH November 2007
GORTA WELCOMES LAUNCH OF GOVERNMENT CLIMATE CHANGE CAMPAIGN given Ireland’s greenhouse gasses are contributing to the misery of the world’s poorest.
GORTA, The Freedom from Hunger Council of Ireland welcomed the new climate change awareness campaign launched by the Government today. Whilst the launch focussed on the imperative of addressing climate change from an Irish perspective, GORTA has stressed the impact Ireland’s approach can have to either improving or damaging the lives of people in the world’s poorest communities, in areas such as Sub-Saharan Africa.
“We need radical action now to ensure that development successes in Sub Saharan Africa and the rest of the developing world will not be rendered useless in the face of the devastating consequences of Climate Change,” said GORTA CEO, Brian Hanratty.
He pointed out that Ireland is emitting seventeen tonnes of greenhouse gases per person per year (in 2003, 2004, 2005), making this country the second worst polluter in the European Union after Luxembourg and compares to an EU average of eleven tonnes.
“Ireland has a great tradition of helping those less fortunate – in fact, among rich countries Ireland is the sixth most generous overseas aid donor per person. Unfortunately however, Ireland is at the same time the fifth most climate polluting country per person,” said Hanratty.
Developing countries will be the ones worst hit by climate change – for example, devastating floods in Bangladesh and extreme rainfall in Africa show that the impact of global warming is already occurring. This is undermining the progress intended under the Millennium Development Goals and longer term development objectives.
“In Ireland, we need to get back to the old adage ‘think global, act local’ and every individual, family, community & business needs to develop an action plan to minimize their carbon footprint,” concluded Hanratty.
ENDS
Further info: Brian Hanratty - Office: 01 664 0150 Mobile: 087 258 9768
Since 1965, Gorta has implemented strategic partnerships with some of the world’s poorest communities focusing on food and water security, healthcare, education and livelihoods.
