Environmental Pillar welcomes €3 billion fund for climate and nature projects
Oisín Coghlan, Environmental Pillar spokesperson and Director of Friends of the Earth Ireland said: “While not all we asked for, this is still a significant announcement and very welcome as it puts in place stable funding for climate action and nature over the coming years. It is not only a major boost for those working on climate action and to reverse the decline in nature, it is a win for the Irish people. Not only will it help to lower our carbon emissions and address the biodiversity crisis to the benefit of all, it will ensure that Ireland is at the leading edge in creating a clean, green, carbon-efficient society and economy and it will save the country billions in EU fines in coming years if we fail to take action on climate action now.”
The Environmental Pillar also welcomed the fact that the funds, which will be made available between 2026 and 2030, are in addition to funding already earmarked for climate and nature in the National Development Plan.
However, while the exact projects that will be funded have not yet been decided, the Environmental Pillar said that projects to restore nature, address the biodiversity crisis and decline in water quality will require increased personnel in State agencies with expertise in climate, ecology, water quality and other related sciences and expertise.
Dr. Elaine McGoff, Environmental Pillar spokesperson and Head of Advocacy with An Taisce said: “The fund should also be used for increased funding for training in nature-based solutions, fully-funded Marine Protected Areas and financial and practical assistance to farmers for nature restoration as outlined in our pre-Budget submission.
“We are at a crucial time in relation to the nature and biodiversity crisis in Ireland. Not only will we need to fund projects to help address the situation, we will also need to invest in boots on the ground to implement the solutions. In this regard, the 28% increase in funding to the NPWS to €67.5 million announced by Minister Malcolm Noonan is welcome. The 11.5% increase in funding for water quality is also coming at a critical time to address the decade long decline in our precious water quality.”
Karen Ciesielski, Coordinator of the Environmental Pillar said: “Overall, we welcome this commitment to investing in climate and biodiversity action. We and our members look forward to working with the Government and State agencies in identifying projects that will help cut down on the use of fossil fuels, make buildings more energy efficient, transition towards a circular economy model, improve the quality of our waterways, reverse the decline in nature, improve habitats, protect wildlife and re-introduce once-common species.”
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Environmental Pillar calls for establishment of Climate and Nature Restoration Fund in Budget 2024
Monday 18th September 2023
Environmental Pillar calls for establishment of Climate and Nature Restoration Fund in Budget 2024
Budget must also prioritise protecting the most vulnerable while progressing to a safer environment
The projected €65 billion surplus in the years ahead presents a unique opportunity for the establishment of a dedicated Climate and Nature Restoration Fund in Budget 2024, according to the Environmental Pillar, Ireland’s largest network of environmental groups.
In its pre-Budget statement published today, Monday 18th September, the Environmental Pillar said that such a fund could serve as a catalyst for the rejuvenation of our natural world, the revitalization of rural and coastal economies, and the provision of crucial public amenities. Among the benefits are the prospect of warmer and more comfortable homes, the expansion of renewable energy infrastructure, and a substantial improvement in our public transportation systems.
Budget policies should also safeguard vulnerable households from cost of living increases while staying committed to our long-term vision of a sustainable and biodiversity-rich Ireland, it stressed.
The Environmental Pillar is calling for the Government to:
- Ensure that spending on nature over the next four years (2024-2027) amounts to a minimum of €2bn (outside of CAP payments). Extra funding would provide for the following for example:
- Financial and practical assistance to farmers for nature restoration
- Increased personnel in state agencies with expertise in climate, ecology and other related sciences and expertise.
- Increased funding for training in nature-based solutions
- Fully funding Marine Protected Areas
- Create an €8bn Climate and Nature Restoration Fund from windfall corporation taxes to finance future climate and nature infrastructural and capital investments, including nature-based solutions.
- Maintain the trajectory of NPWS funding and staffing increases so it can coordinate the national response to biodiversity loss
- Concentrate resources on augmenting social protection payments coupled with retrofitting initiatives tailored to lower-income households.
Speaking about their budget proposals, Environmental Pillar spokesperson and Director of Friends of the Earth Oisín Coghlan said: “Ireland currently finds itself at the heart of a dual ecological challenge, grappling with both biodiversity and climate emergencies. With a projected €65 billion surplus in the years ahead we feel that the Government is now in an exceptional position to begin to address these challenges through the establishment of a dedicated Climate and Nature Restoration Fund. By investing in a sustainable and just Ireland now, we are helping to secure the future for people and the planet.”
Oonagh Duggan, Environmental Pillar spokesperson and Head of Advocacy with BirdWatch Ireland, said: “In May 2019, Dáil Éireann declared a climate and biodiversity crisis. Yet, warnings on the state of biodiversity in Ireland have grown starker; a quarter of Ireland’s bird species are in danger of extinction, and over 70% of our peatlands are in bad status. Biodiversity and climate are inextricably linked and the time to invest in nature for a sustainable future is now.”
The case for investing in climate and nature makes strong financial sense, said Caroline Whyte, Environmental Pillar and Feasta economist.
“A compelling example can be found in the business case for the Nature Restoration Law, which illustrates that every €1 invested in nature restoration yields an impressive €8 to €38 through ecosystem services that are vital for human existence. But it is equally important that we prioritise protecting the most vulnerable while we progress to a more sustainable environment. The proposals contained in this pre-budget submission aim to not only provide immediate relief to vulnerable segments of our society, but also to make steadfast progress towards a future where our environment is secure, our homes are comfortable, and Ireland’s natural world flourishes with biodiversity.”
Read the full Environmental Pillar Pre-Budget submission here https://environmentalpillar.ie/2023/09/17/environmental-pillar-budget-2024-submission/
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Further information:
Ciaran Brennan
Communications Officer Environmental Pillar
086049 6518/ciaran@ien.ie
