Welcome to Post-Carbon Ireland
Watch the launch of the Post-Carbon Ireland network (February 2016)
What is this?
Post-Carbon Ireland is a network of Irish academics, whose aim is to support and catalyse an Irish society-wide response to climate change that is commensurate with the scale and urgency of this "long emergency". We are commited to enabling the sustained, citizen-led, engagement that is now essential to unite all of society in planning and creating a just, managed, transition to a secure, flourishing, and authentically sustainable post-carbon world.
The first initiative of Post-Carbon Ireland was launched during the 2016 general election campaign, calling for political commitment to the immediate establishment of what was called a Citizens’ Convention for a Post-Carbon Ireland. Whether influenced by that call or not, the Programme for a Partnership Government, agreed in May 2016 included an explicit undertaking to establish a National Dialogue on climate change. The Post-Carbon Ireland network continues to engage with the development of the National Dialogue, and with wider public policy contributions wherever possible.
Status Update: 2nd March 2017
Post-Carbon Ireland warmly welcomes the announcement by Minister Denis Naughten of indicative plans for the National Dialogue on Climate Action (NDCA), published in the context of the public consultation on Ireland’s first National Clean Air Strategy. We believe that the stated actions represent a significant new approach to society-wide mobilisation for effective Irish climate action. We look forward to seeing full details of the National Dialogue and to supporting its full implementation.
Status Update: 25th May 2016
Following the establishment of a new Government, and the appointment of Deputy Denis Naughten as Minister for Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources, we wrote formally to Minister Naughten, drawing his attention to the call for a Citizens' Convention for a Post-Carbon Ireland, and requesting an early meeting to discuss the initiative. See also the associated press release. We have now received a brief reply: indicating simply that, due to the Minister's "full diary", he is "unable to accede" to our request. While the door is seemingly left open for "any submission", this rather seems to overlook the full submission already provided. This is a disappointing, and somewhat puzzling, response. Nonetheless, we will continue to explore any other channels to achieve effective engagement. We encourage concerned citizens to write directly to Minister Naughten (minister.naughten@dcenr.gov.ie) to register your support for the initiative.
Learn More
- Read the media release for the press conference and launch event on Friday, 12th February 2016.
- Read the full open letter to all General Election '16 parties and candidates, calling on them to support the immediate creation of the Citizens’ Convention for a Post-Carbon Ireland. This includes the list of all twenty nine original signatories.
- Check the pre-election correspondence with political parties, asking whether they would support the creation of the Citizens' Convention.
- Read the letter addressed to the Director General of RTÉ, inviting him to consider how climate action might be most appropriately addressed during the general election campaign, specifically including during televised “Leaders’ Debates”; and his response, confirming that this was passed on "to a range of senior Editorial staff in News, TV and Radio, for consideration".
- See the reaction of Post-Carbon Ireland to the final #ge16 Leaders' Debate: "We [really do!] need a citizens’ convention to devise a post-carbon country".
- Now that the election is over, read Dr. Cara Augustenborg's take away message: "New Dáil must tackle the critically important climate change issues".