There is no climate justice in a world where genocides are allowed to happen with impunity

Blog by Nandana James, Communications Content Officer

Let’s call a spade a spade - there is no climate justice in a world where genocides are allowed to happen with impunity. As a movement that exists to protect people and our planet, the climate movement cannot remain silent as Israel continues to massacre the people and ecosystems of Gaza. World leaders cannot be claiming to combat the climate crisis while funding and enabling genocides and militarisation in the same breath.

That’s why it’s important to show up and demand action to stop the genocide. This Saturday, July 19th, we, at Friends of the Earth, will be attending the march for Palestine in Dublin and we’d love you to join us. Together, we’ll urge the Government to impose sanctions on Israel - words of condemnation are not enough; the Irish Government must act if it's serious about opposing the genocide.

This National Demonstration for Palestine is being organised by the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign and has been endorsed by a huge number of civil society organisations, including Friends of the Earth. You can read more about the march and its specific demands here. If you can’t make it to Dublin there are lots of other Palestine solidarity actions taking place across the country on a regular basis - see the Ireland Palestine Solidarity website for a list of these here.

Logistics for the Day

The march will start at 1pm from the Garden of Remembrance in Dublin on 19th July. I will be at the Hugh Lane gallery from 12:30pm along with other members of the Friends of the Earth staff team; Ruth Jedidja, Claudia and Emma Jayne. We will be wearing green Friends of the Earth hi-vis jackets - hopefully that will make it easy for you to spot us. You could bring along banners and placards and invite your friends to join!

We cannot claim to support climate justice if we ignore the genocide in Gaza

Climate justice is not simply about reducing emissions—it’s also about tackling the root injustices and exploitative systems that caused and prolong the climate crisis, such as colonialism, militarisation, extractive capitalism etc. It means acknowledging the undeniable and historical connection between the current economic system we live under and the manifestations of injustice globally. 

Climate justice means we are committed to showing solidarity and joining forces where possible when our causes intersect. It also means we are committed to peace, justice and human rights and we cannot be silent in the face of egregious breaches of international law.

On Saturday, we'll be marching to call for an end to the violence, to call on the Irish Government to impose sanctions on Israel and to stop arms from being transported through Irish airports and airspace. In particular, we’re calling on the Government to support an important Bill, called the Occupied Territories Bill (OTB), which aims to end trade between Ireland and illegal Israeli settlements. The Bill needs to include not only an end to trade of goods but also services, which account for the majority of Ireland’s trade with the illegal settlements. 

It’s really important that we do everything we can to put pressure on the Government to include services in the final version of the Bill. Marching on the 19th is one way to do this.

Another urgent action you can take

The Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade are examining the key elements of the Occupied Territories Bill and producing joint recommendations before the Bill is formally introduced. It’s crucial that we step up and demand that the Bill includes goods and services. Ireland can and should do more. 

What you can do: Directly influence the TDs and Senators on the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade. Their contact details can be found here.

Which TDs and Senators are on this Committee? Those of the following constituencies - Dublin South-West, Dublin Rathdown, Kildare South, Dublin Fingal East, Wicklow-Wexford, Cork North Central, Cork South Central, Cavan Monaghan, Kildare-South and Cork East. 

If you are in any of these constituencies, please call and email your TD or Senator!

What to include in your email or phone call: 

- that you are a constituent of the TD/Senator in question.

- that you are very concerned about what is happening in Palestine and want to see this proposed ban on import and sale of goods and services from illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territories. 

- that you want to see services included in the Bill as there is no legal reason why services should be treated differently than goods. See more info here - www.passtheotb.ie 

- that as their constituent you are calling on them to support the Bill and to include both goods and services.

Could you also help us reach as many voters as possible in the constituencies named above and encourage them to send an email or make a call too? It really increases your impact when you can tell a politician that you’re a constituent and that this issue will influence how you vote! 

Remember, together, we do have a lot of power—history shows us that collective action has the power to create change. One of the biggest myths is that power lies only with those at the top. But the truth is, change is driven by communities who organise, persist, and push for a better world. So let’s make sure to act for a better world.