This week saw leaders gather from across the world to debate one important issue – climate change. So important is this issue that Ban Ki Moon, Secretary General of the UN chose to invite Presidents and Prime Ministers rather than Environment Ministers to the UN General Assembly to discuss the need to take urgent action on climate change, as apparently, the message just isn’t getting through.

  
Saying Yes to Lisbon will ensure that Ireland remains at the heart of a political system that has a long and impressive track record on environmental issues. As far as this country is concerned, the improvement in our water treatment faciltites, our growing recycling rates and the level of environmental protection we enjoy comes about as a direct result of our membership of the European Union.
The Lisbon Treaty sets out explicitly the EU’s values and objectives – and among these are improving the quality of the environment problems and fighting climate change. The EU has been at the forefront of leading the battle against climate change. It has agreed strong commitments and targets to reduce carbon emissions. US President Barack Obama has pledged to turn America in a new direction, in support of the leadership shown by the EU.
Article 37 of the Charter for Fundamental Rights ensures that European citizens have a right to a high level of environmental protection and that the improvement of the environment must be integrated into the policies of the Union. The Lisbon Treaty will make this Charter legally binding on EU institutions and on the Member States when they are implementing EU law.
Ireland is in a particularly vulnerable position as far as energy security is concerned. We are at the end of a long gas pipeline, which stretches from Russia, through the continent of Europe. 90 per cent of our energy is imported at present. Under the Lisbon Treaty the EU will have new responsibilities in the area of energy policy. The Lisbon Treaty commits the European Union to protect our energy supply, promote renewable energy and ensure energy solidarity between Member States. If Lisbon is passed, it will allow interlinked electricity grids to be established across the EU so that wind and wave power can be exported from Ireland, and hydro power and solar power can be imported from countries like Scandinavia and Spain .

A Yes vote to the Lisbon Treaty makes sense for anyone interested in protecting the Irish environment, ensuring our energy security for the future, and standing firmly with Europe and the UN in the battle against climate change.

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Press Release by Deirdre