Hildegarde Naughton appointed Chair of new Oireachtas Climate Committee

Fine Gael Galway West TD, Hildegarde Naughton, has been appointed Chair of a new Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action.

Deputy Naughton, who is Chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, will now also Chair this new committee designed to focus solely on measures we must take to drastically reduce our carbon emissions.

Speaking after the announcement Deputy Naughton said: “We need to ensure that climate action is at the heart of policy making as a matter of urgency.

“The Citizens Assembly have made far reaching suggestions as to what measures we, as a country, must take to tackle climate change.

“The Climate Change Advisory Council has been very clear. We are not doing nearly enough to decarbonise.

“This new Committee will explore all of the various options to make climate action the priority of Government policy and ensure that the appropriate action is taken as a matter of urgency.

“Not doing so puts our future generations at risk of very serious adverse climate consequences.

“We need to encourage every sector to transition to a low carbon economy, through supports and incentives.

“This must include agriculture, transport, industry and construction to name a few.

“It is my plan that we will engage with relevant stakeholders in these sectors and, together, forge dynamic new policies that can drastically reduce emissions and safeguard all our futures.”

ENDS