Thousands of demonstrators assembled in Dublin on Saturday calling on the Government to implement a “just climate action policy” and to phase out fossil fuel energy sources.
The nationwide climate protest formed part of a broader international day of mobilisation coinciding with the COP30 negotiations in Belém, Brazil, reports RTE.
“This climate march is shaping up to be the biggest that we’ve seen in Ireland this decade,” said Siobhán Curran, Trócaire’s Head of Policy and Advocacy.
“People are demanding that our leaders act quicker and stop prioritising polluting fossil fuel corporations. We owe this to the people around the world on the frontlines of this crisis who are experiencing hurricanes, flooding, wildfires and drought due to a climate crisis that they did not cause in the first place,” Ms Curran said, reports RTE.
The event was coordinated by the Stop Climate Chaos coalition, whose members include Oxfam Ireland, Trócaire and AMLÉ among others.
“We have over 60 groups represented here today, from environmental, students, families, faith-based groups, workers and unions, healthcare professionals and many more,” said Stop Climate Chaos coalition coordinator Sara Hurley. No matter your age or interest, climate change is something that links us all. The Government can’t turn a blind eye or get away with weak ambition. It’s costing the state billions in fines and it’ll cost people in ways that can’t be quantified in euros. We need fast, fair and funded climate action,” she added, reports RTE.
Protesters also called for more affordable housing and greater progress in powering and heating homes with clean, renewable energy sources.
“The shift to clean energy is not just about reducing emissions: it’s about creating an equal society. When we invest in home retrofitting, renewable energy and community power, we lower costs, cut pollution, and create good jobs. Everyone benefits,” said Sinéad Roche, Campaigns Coordinator of Oxfam Ireland.
Participants argued that current Government actions fall far short of what is needed to confront the scale and urgency of the climate emergency, reports RTE.
Students stressed that environmental policy should prioritise the wellbeing of people and the planet in national decision-making.
Deirdre Duff, from Friends of the Earth, said: ”We’re seeing actions that are too slow and they need to be quicker. Some of the things we’re calling for is warmer homes, better public transport. We’re also looking for an end to the big polluting industries, like the gas, LNG industries, data centres because we can’t keep going on like this.
“We can’t keep saying that climate action, as the Taoiseach did last week, or climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing humanity, if not the biggest, and then not be taking much more concrete action,” reports RTE.
Student Jasmijn Uludag said the shifting weather patterns are worrying for many young people.
‘”You can see it in increasing extreme weather conditions that are going to influence Ireland as well, since we’re an island, and we’re very dependent on the warm currents in the ocean as well,” she said, reports RTE.
Student Mace Bass said he joined the demonstration because ‘”the only way we can have a sustainable future is to drastically reduce our carbon emissions”.
Meanwhile, Mairead Nic Reamoinn said ‘”what we do in Ireland has global impact and one of the main drivers of the climate crisis that we’re experiencing is the burning of fossil fuels. So essentially we really want to play down fossil fuels because it’s impacting our future and future generations”, reports RTE.
Grandmother Cathy Davey from Shankill in Dublin said she felt compelled to attend because she believes “action has to be taken”.
‘’We’ve been talking for too long. It’s high time [the government] did something. And it needs to be the government. We all do our little bits. But that’s not enough. It needs government action,” she said, reports RTE.
STAND, an organisation that works with third-level students on global justice issues, added: “We know students need warm, affordable homes and fair energy costs here in Ireland. Ten years on from the Paris Agreement, progress has been too slow. We’re calling for faster, fairer climate action that leaves no one behind”, reports RTE.
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