Specialists in the fields of energy efficiency, climate change and heritage joined the Environment Minister John Gormley and Green Party Senator Deirdre de Burca to promote a Yes vote in the Lisbon Treaty at a press event in Dublin this morning.

Speaking in the recently completed Trinity Point building on Leinster Street South, which was built to excellent energy efficiency specifications, Green Party Leader and Environment Minister John Gormley said: “There is a little over seven days before Ireland goes to the polls, and the outcome of the referendum is by no means decided. For anybody that shares my interests in combating climate change and protecting our environment, voting Yes to Lisbon is an absolute no-brainer.”

Minister Gormley continued: “In the last days US President Barack Obama has pledged to turn American in a new direction in the fight against climate change. He has obliterated the culture of denial and obstruction that characterised his predecessor’s attitude towards the greatest issue facing mankind. And he has been able to do this in part because of the ambitious and progressive leadership role played by the European Union. I have seen Europe lead the way internationally on climate change, and I see the Lisbon Treaty as a means for allowing Europe to continue this leadership, especially as we approach the crucial UN conference in Copenhagen this December.”

Green Party European Affairs spokesperson Senator Deirdre de Burca said: “Article 37 of The Charter for Fundamental Rights makes it clear that every European citizen can enjoy a right to a high level of environmental protection and that the improvement of the quality of the environment must be integrated into the policies of the Union. We know here in Ireland that most of our important environmental legislation, on water safety and quality, on air pollution and on dealing with our waste comes as a direct result of European directives.”

Acclaimed broadcaster and architect Duncan Stewart added: “If we look beyond the difficult economic issues we’re in, we’ll see that by the far the biggest threat facing us is climate change. We need to send out a strong message to the rest of the world that Ireland is fully behind the strong leadership of the EU on this issue. Without Europe, Ireland would be very weak and it would be difficult to achieve our important sustainable objectives. Ireland is in a very difficult position where 90 per cent of our energy is imported. Our fuel travels long distances – we are at the end of a very long pipeline. For security purposes and to help our switch to renewable energy we need more than ever to be at the heart of Europe.”

And John Gibbons, publisher and climate change campaigner said: “The EU has been the only show in town on climate for practically the last eight years. Without its efforts, the Copenhagen climate conference in December would be a non-event. Europe has led aggressively and from the front, moving at the pace of its most dynamic member states, and dragging the laggards along with them. Climate change and sustainability are not spectator sports. We’re all in it, like it or not. And for these reasons, and more, it has to be Yes to Lisbon.”

Note to editors: Trinity Point is a naturally ventilated office headquarters. It has a triple skin facade, which allows the building to cool naturally in the summer and store solar gain in the winter. The building management system controls natural airflow and sustains a constant temperature throughout the building and can give energy savings of up to 60% over normal office buildings.

Some photos of the event can be viewed at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thegreenparty

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Press Release by Deirdre