December 5, 2008 View all news Events Across Ireland to Mark Gobal Day of Action on Climate ChangeOn Saturday 6th of December Stop Climate Chaos supporters across Ireland will "Ring the Changes" to call urgent action on climate change.This year, the global day of action coincides with important UN global climate change negotiations taking place in Poznan, Poland. At these negotiations, world leaders must rise to challenge presented by our changing climate. There are just 12 months to go to the United Nations Climate Talks in Copenhagen, which must agree a strong successor to the Kyoto Protocol if the world's climate is to be protected. Over 9,000 delegates are attending the meeting in Poznan to draw up a plan aimed at making the Copenhagen talks a historic success"The negotiations in Poznan present an important opportunity to refocus our attention on the urgent issue of climate change and for world leaders to begin to show much needed leadership" said Niamh Garvey, Trócaire's Environmental Justice Policy OfficerThe Stop Climate Chaos coalition, made up of thirty civil society organisations, is calling on the Irish Government to play its part in preventing a climate crisis. To mark the global day, the coalition has asked communities, groups and individuals around the country to ring bells at 2pm, sending a signal to our Government that now is the time for action.At 2 p.m, over 100 groups north and south of the border will ring church bells, their own bells, our special Stop Climate Chaos bells - or their mobile phones - to send an urgent signal that the world must warm by no more than two degrees above pre-industrial levels if we are to live safely on this earth. Together we can "Ring the Changes" that are necessary to make human life sustainable on this planet. If we ring these changes we will rebuild a truly strong global economy with low-carbon industries and support for poor people in developing countries who already feeling the effects of climate change. If we do not they will continue to be hit first and hardest by a problem they did not create."There are just twelve months to go until a global deal on climate change must be reached in Copenhagen in December 2009. Currently, the world is far off track in its efforts to avoid dangerous and irreversible climate change. All Governments must redouble their efforts to ensure that real progress is made to halt climate chaos, before it is too late" said Oisín Coghlan, Director of Friends of the Earth.The time for urgent action is now. As parents and teachers protest in Dublin against education cuts, we will focus on another aspect of our children's welfare: their right to a future without climate catastrophe."The Irish government, in particular, has to deliver on its responsibilities to tackle climate change. Ireland is currently the sixth worst carbon polluter, per capita, in the world. It's time for Ireland to stand up and deliver on climate change. We're off track tackling our own emissions and at this weeks EU climate talks have failed to support poor countries effected by climate change. It's time for our own climate change bill and to start showing leadership to get a fair global deal" said Oxfam Ireland's Policy and Advocacy Coordinator, Colin Roche.Stop Climate Chaos is a coalition of civil society organisations campaigning to ensure Ireland plays its part in preventing runaway climate change. Current members include development, environmental, youth and faith based organisations.The Stop Climate Chaos Coalition is calling on the Irish Government to:Push for an international agreement to keep the rise in global temperature to 2˚C or less, meaning that global greenhouse gas emissions must reach their peak and begin to decline irreversibly within 10 years.Ensure Ireland does its fair share to prevent climate chaos by implementing the polluter pays principle and immediately bringing in a climate change law which provided for an annual Carbon Budget and 3% year-on-year reductions in Irish greenhouse gas emissions.Ensure that developing countries can access additional, appropriate and adequate resources to enable them to adapt to the current and future impacts of climate change.Ensure that natural environment considerations are integrated into adaptation and mitigation strategies for dealing with climate change.The members of Stop Climate Chaos areAction Aid, Afri, Birdwatch Ireland, Christian Aid, Climate Action Ireland Platform, Comhlámh, Concern, Cultivate, Dublin Friends of Earth, Eco-Congregation, Eco-Unesco, Feasta, Friends of the Earth, Friends of the Irish Environment, Gorta, Just Forests, Kimmage Development Studies Centre, Latin America Solidarity Centre, Methodist Church of Ireland- Council of Social Responsibility, Mountmellick Environmental Group (MEG), National Youth Council Ireland, Oxfam Ireland, Presentation Centre for Policy and Systemic Change, Progressio Ireland, Students Against Climate Change, Sustain West Cork, An Taisce, Trócaire, VITA, VoiceBells sent to every politicianEvery TD, Senator and MEP was sent their own Stop Climate Chaos bell during the week. They have been invited to join with people from around the country by ringing their Stop Climate Chaos bell at 2pm on Saturday the 6th of December. It is hoped that the bells will serve as a reminder to the Irish Government that now is the time for much needed leadership on this important issue at this crucial time in global climate negotiations.Ring the Changes events around the country include:Barnardo Square, Dublin Castle,Dame Sreet, Dublin 2Oxfam Shops, NationwideIrish Girl Guides, Newbridge and groups nationwideCork Quaker Eco Congregation Group, Patrick Street, CorkTCD Environment Society, DublinConcern - LimerickConcern - TrimConcern - CavanConcern - KerryChurch of Ireland Groups, NationwideLucan, Co. DublinNASC, Immigrant Support Centre, Cork City.Rathfarnham Church of IrelandKinsale, Co. CorkChurch Groups in PortlaoisePatagonia, Exchequer Street, D2Three Rock Churches Environmental Group, DundrumRathmines, Dublin 6Naas, Co. KildareMidleton Transition Group, Co. CorkBoreenmanna, CorkLaremorris, Co Mayo.Oxfam Shops, NationwideSt James Prebyterian Church and the Methodist Church both in Ballymoney TownFriends of the Earth Fermanagh and Fermanagh Church's Forum, EnnikillenFriends of the Earth Bannside, ColeraineWhitehead Carbon Club, WhiteheadKillinchy and Killmood in County DownChurch of Ireland in Ballinamallard, County FermanaghWaterfordClane, Co. KildareTullamore, Co. OffalyClonakilty, Co. CorkClonmel,Co. Tipperary.Navan, Co. MeathYoung Greens Society, NUI MaynoothDublin 14Sacred Heart Secondary School, ClonakiltyTransition Initiative Bandon, Co. CorkClonakilty Methodist Church, Astna Square, ClonakiltyGalwaySilgoDowra, Co. LeitrimArklow, Co. WicklowTCD Environment Society, DublinChurch of Ireland Groups, NationwideHowth, Co. DublinFriends Meeting House, Dublin 14Dominican college, Dublin 9Stop Climate Chaos Dublin Event - Barnardo Square, Dublin Castle,Dame Sreet, Dublin 2Oxfam Shops, NationwideIrish Girl Guides, Newbridge and groups nationwideCork Quaker Eco Congregation Group, Patrick Street, CorkTCD Environment Society, DublinConcern - LimerickConcern - TrimConcern - CavanConcern - KerryChurch of Ireland Groups, NationwideLucan, Co. DublinNASC, Immigrant Support Centre, Cork City.Rathfarnham Church of IrelandKinsale, Co. CorkChurch Groups in PortlaoisePatagonia, Exchequer Street, D2Three Rock Churches Environmental Group, DundrumRathmines, Dublin 6Naas, Co. KildareMidleton Transition Group, Co. CorkBoreenmanna, CorkLaremorris, Co Mayo.Oxfam Shops, NationwideSt James Prebyterian Church and the Methodist Church both in Ballymoney TownFriends of the Earth Fermanagh and Fermanagh Church's Forum, EnnikillenFriends of the Earth Bannside, ColeraineWhitehead Carbon Club, WhiteheadKillinchy and Killmood in County DownChurch of Ireland in Ballinamallard, County FermanaghWaterfordClane, Co. KildareTullamore, Co. OffalyClonakilty, Co. CorkClonmel,Co. Tipperary.Navan, Co. MeathYoung Greens Society, NUI MaynoothDublin 14Sacred Heart Secondary School, ClonakiltyTransition Initiative Bandon, Co. CorkClonakilty Methodist Church, Astna Square, ClonakiltyGalwaySilgoDowra, Co. LeitrimArklow, Co. WicklowTCD Environment Society, DublinChurch of Ireland Groups, NationwideHowth, Co. DublinFriends Meeting House, Dublin 14Dominican college, Dublin 9Read the Friends of the Earth Blog from Poznan Categorised in: Climate Change