The human face of Climate Change: a slum in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. Dhaka is twice the size of London, and it population swells every year as refugees from flooding abandon their homes.

Many barbs have been aimed at the Green Party over the last 3 years, particularly in relation to not delivering on our policy agenda.

That criticism will obviously continue, but the evidence that substantiates it is becoming ever weaker.

On December 11th, John Gormley delivered his 3rd Carbon Budget, which commits this State to an 80% reduction in CO2 emissions over 1990 levels by the year 2050. The framework to achieve this ambitious target will be enshrined in the Framework for Climate Change Bill, which will place Ireland’s targets and programmes in relation to Climate Change on a statutory footing.

This Bill will establishing the overarching framework under which the State will deal with the challenges of Climate Change as they arise over coming decades. It will regulate the use of levies to reduce emissions, the setting of emissions targets, the development of alternative energy sources, our participation in EU wide efforts to reduce emissions and the execution of adaptation measures such as flood defences.

In short, it will give the State the necessary powers and focus to deal with the consequences of Climate Change, both for our own island nation and the wider world.

Of course, the usual criticisms will be directed at these measures, namely that we are a small nation whose efforts can have no meaningful impact on the global problem of Climate Change.

This is a dangerous and irresponsible argument.

As the tortuous negotiations in Copenhagen have shown, dealing with Climate Change is a political problem rather than a technical one, and there can be no solution unless everyone is part of the solution.

If small counties like Ireland can be shown to lead the way, the pressure mounts on our larger neighbours, whereas if smaller countries don’t play their part, these neighbours are afforded the political excuses they require.

Furthermore, we cannot simply hide behind our national identity to disclaim our moral responsibilities. The 4 million people who live on this island produce as much CO2 as 20 million Chinese people, and 100 million people living in the developing world.

If we has Irish people, and Europeans, cannot be seen to compromise for the sake of future generations, what hope have we of convincing others to do the same?

John Gormley delivers 3rd Carbon Budget

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