Bear-y unusual scenes took place outside Leinster House this morning as two polar bears took to the main gates to demand climate justice from the Irish government.
Climate Case Ireland and Extinction Rebellion took to the rain to ensure that action is taken on climate change and biodiversity.
They are urging the government to set the date for the Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity before the Dáil recess on June 16.
Two protesters dressed as polar bears to call attention to the gaps and issues in government policy which threatens to undermine Ireland’s commitment to the Paris Agreement.
A spokeswoman from Friends of the Irish Environment said: “The bears are iconic global symbols of the losses that climate change is inflicting on growing parts of the world, including their Arctic home.
“Because of expected habitat loss caused by climate change, the polar bear is classified as a vulnerable species. It is the largest remaining land carnivore.”
Climate Case Ireland said in a statement: “We now have less than two weeks before the Dáil recess on June 16.
“We are calling on Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and The Green Party to deliver what they promised two years ago and announce a date for the Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity.”
The Dáil declared a climate and biodiversity emergency back in May 2019 and called for the Citizens’ Assembly to examine how the State can improve its response to the issue of biodiversity loss.
The campaigners wrote to all TDs and Senators on June 6 seeking their support for the Citizens Assembly, but still no party has come forward to announce a date yet.
The group is further calling for the Assembly’s agenda to include the possible recognition of a Constitutional right to a safe, clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, and the principles of a Just Transition.
They are also calling upon the Government to ensure that Ireland’s Climate Bill provides a clear and binding commitment to remaining below 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Friends of the Irish Environment made international headlines when they won their historic legal case “Climate Case Ireland'' against the Government in July 2020.
They were the second case in the world in which a Government’s overall level of mitigation ambition was successfully challenged in court.
