Friends of the Earth welcomes the Green Paper on Energy Policy launched today. The Green Paper poses 47 questions on how to deliver a national energy system that will enable a sustainable quality of life to the benefit of everyone. While, the Department has given a significant time to allow the public to provide written comments, proposals for a more in depth consultation process to engage the people of Ireland in this debate on energy policy have yet to be elaborated.
Kate Ruddock, Policy and Campaigns Manager at Friends of the Earth said,
“Energy policy effects every person in Ireland, that is why it is so important that we make informed decisions about where that energy comes from and how we use it. The launch of the Green Paper gives us the opportunity as a nation to have a debate on energy in Ireland and develop solutions to the big questions we must grapple with, how do we achieve security of supply, reduce fuel poverty, and decarbonise our energy system in a way that it mindful of communities and the local environment? “
The proposed consultation process is not yet clear, however the Department have indicated that empowering energy citizens is a priority and that the process will include regional workshops and seminars. It is fundamental that the Government now design a consultation process with the help of community and energy groups around the country so that meaningful public participation on this very important policy can commence.
The proposed consultation process is not yet clear, however the Department have indicated that empowering energy citizens is a priority and that the process will include regional workshops and seminars. It is fundamental that the Government now design a consultation process with the help of community and energy groups around the country so that meaningful public participation on this very important policy can commence.
As the Green Paper says, climate change is possibly the most fundamental existential issue of our time. The findings of the The 2014 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, Mitigation of Climate Change Report tells us that we need to significantly reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and triple our renewables contribution to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
Kate Ruddock continued,
“At Friends of the Earth we strongly believe that for the transformation to a low carbon future to progress at the speed that is required, it needs to be an endeavour that all citizens are involved with. The energy system to date has by and large regarded citizens as passive consumers. That is no longer appropriate. We want to see communities supported to take an active role in renewable generation, local energy efficiency initiatives and decentralised smart energy networks, with local investment, keeping jobs and money local.”
Information taken from Friends of the Earth press release.
