Climate Action Committee to hear from Climate Advisory Council’s Professor John Fitzgerald and Environmental Pillar

Also attending the Committee hearing is Council member and Director General of the Environmental Protection Agency Laura Burke. In the second part of its meeting, the Committee will hear from representatives of the Environmental Pillar which is comprised of 26 national independent environmental non-governmental organisations, who work together to represent the views of the Irish environmental sector.

The schedule for the meeting in Committee Room 3 is:

10am - Examination of the Third Report of the Citizens’ Assembly
Representatives from the Climate Change Advisory Council – Professor John Fitzgerald (Chair) and Laura Burke.

1.45pm – Examination of the Third Report of the Citizen’s Assembly
Representatives from the Environmental Pillar – Oisín Coghlan (Friends of the Earth); Charles Stanley-Smith (An Taisce); and Andrew St Ledger (the Woodland League).

Committee proceedings can be viewed live here.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the move, through the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.

Chair of the Joint Committee Hildegarde Naughton TD said: “Chair of the Joint Committee Hildegarde Naughton TD said: “Last week, we received a comprehensive presentation from Justice Mary Laffoy on the work that led to the formulation of the recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly Report. On Wednesday, the Committee will continue its hearings on the Report when we will hear from the Climate Change Advisory Council, the independent advisory body tasked with assessing and advising on how Ireland can achieve the transition to a low carbon, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable economy. The latest report of the Council outlines the extent of the challenge that faces the State and all sectors of society in reducing the emission of Green House Gases. The hearing with the Council will be invaluable in assessing mitigation and adaptation plans of the various sectors and will assist us in making recommendations that will put Ireland on viable pathway to achieving our international commitments. In the second part of our meeting, we will get the perspectives of representatives of the Environmental Pillar on the extent of the challenge that lies ahead. The work we will do over the next few months will have a huge influence on the climate action Ireland will take and the changes that will have to be implemented to ensure we play our part in reducing harmful emissions that are driving climate change.”