3.3.3 TOPIC 3: JUST TRANSITION

3.3.3 TOPIC 3: JUST TRANSITION

Summary of Topic 3: Just Transition

WHY JUST TRANSITION IS IMPORTANT • Source of emissions come from (50% agriculture, 20% transport) • The role played by large corporations in carbon emissions • The cost of being climate conscious. It is expensive. • People with lower income can find it difficult to make the changes needed • It is expensive to make old buildings more sustainable. Funding for retrofitting isn’t accessible and readily available. People can’t afford upfront cost of retrofitting – saving returns take too long to incentivise the switch. • People in rural settings more likely to rely on turf and coal heating. • It is not fair to make fossil fuels more expensive when many can’t afford to switch. • Greenwashing. The need to recycle fabric and make informed purchasing decisions.

WHAT ACTIONS ARE NEEDED? • Support farmers and people in fossil fuel industry to make the transition • Ensure those involved in fossil fuel industry are reskilled and do not lose their jobs • Help for agriculture and farmers transition to more climate friendly approaches • Provide education and support to adjust to more sustainable sources • Remove requirement for planning permission to install solar panel • Support people on lower incomes make the transition • Subsidise sustainable energy to make it cheaper • Government offering incentives e.g., make electric cars more affordable, tax cuts and empowering consumers to ‘vote with their wallets’ by choosing green • Offer subsidies for more sustainable transport (electric vehicles / public transport) & more fast chargers • Government to provide support to retrofitting older buildings – make larger grants and loans more accessible • Have allowance/adjustments in taxes depending on use of sustainable sources (reduced tax for greener practices) • Have ways to inform people on how to be more sustainable in their shopping, and that shares information on more sustainable products • App that shares information on sustainable product and where to buy them. • Reduce the harm caused by fashion industry • End fast fashion • Introduce standards and ECO labels WHAT DIFFERENCE THIS WILL MAKE • More just transition to sustainable energy • Just transition – saving money for low-income households. • More low-income people make the transition to sustainable energy • Enable people and businesses to go green (people and industry) – fewer emissions • Large industry more likely to move to sustainable energy • Income from tax and fines to be re-directed to supporting sustainable transitions. • Reduced greenwashing and people will be able to make more informed purchasing.

WHY IS ‘JUST TRANSITION’ IMPORTANT? Echoing the messages from the Government Goals and Policy Group, this group discussed how climate crisis exacerbates existing inequalities, and the need to find solutions that both solve these injustices and the climate crisis.

As we phase out fossil fuels which we must do quickly according to the available science, we need a just transition so that no one is left behind and their voices are represented in the decisions affecting them.

We can’t end this crisis of inequalities with more inequality, a just transition means the Government

supports people to make changes in their life that suits them and the environment e.g. retrofitting,

public transport, charming points, electric cars, renewable energy and so on.

As we phase out fossil fuels which we must do quickly according to the available science,

we need a just transition so that no one is left behind and their voices are represented

in the decisions affecting them.

A Just transition also includes climate reparations to countries (especially MAPA- Most Affected People and Areas within those countries) experiencing the climate crisis already that have historically been colonized and exploited.

Delegates’ discussions on the importance of Just Transition were captured in six sub-themes. • The major sources of emissions (e.g. 50% agriculture, 20% transport) • The role of large organisations • The need to find alternative employment for fossil fuel sector workers • The role of agriculture and support needs of farmers • The financial cost of being climate conscious (for the individual) • The need to recycle and make better purchasing decisions

Important to look at the source of emissions One group felt it was important to look at where the emissions are coming from to ensure there are Just Transition.

Also looking at where emissions come from. Half of all emissions come from agriculture and 20% from transport. Yes it’s about individual responsibility but it’s about what the government does and what business does. Maybe don’t put the emphasis on individuals and

communities, if we want to tackle emissions then needs to be government support

and structures – individuals can’t make so much of a difference

The role played by large corporations in carbon emissions Delegates discussed the contributions and responsibilities of large corporations. At a corporate level, large companies responsible for large volume of carbon emission. Delegates felt that some large corporations are taking advantage of Ireland’s tax laws and are causing harm to the environment. The tech and fashion industries are causing harm to the environment. Corporations in the global North benefit from having goods produced in Asia, but who is responsible with the harm caused? Government overlooks carbon emissions because these companies bring investment

Countless major companies still deny/downplay climate change

• they cannot just be trusted to do the right thing

when they still focus on profits over futures

Alternative employment for fossil fuel sector and support for farmers Similar to the discussions within the Government Goals and Policies, when discussing Just Transition delegates raised the importance to support people involved in the peat industry and farmers when transitioning from fossil fuels to more sustainable sources. Farmers also need to be supported to adjust farming practices to reduce emissions.

Rural Ireland tends to get the short end of the stick in the majority of choices relating to climate change with fuel prices, taxes and alongside the lack of access to any public transport save some

exceptions it is hard for rural people to fully embrace climate action

The cost of being climate conscious Across the groups there were discussions on the challenges (and inequities) for people to the switch to more sustainable ways of living. These challenges are being exacerbated by the increasing cost of living. Discussions centred on the challenges for people in lower incomes to make the changes required to transport and heating. As many sustainable actions (e.g. retro fitting, buying electric cars) are expensive, it is difficult for people with lower incomes to switch.

Places that youth use on a daily basis - homes, etc. - may not have the funds to make

themselves greener due to financial pressures Cost of living crisis is intensifying and may not go away for quite some time Current cost of living crisis is slowing action, and will take a significant time to end

Related to this, some delegates felt it is unfair to make fossil fuel more expensive when not everyone can afford to switch, as this will hit the pockets of people who cannot afford the alternatives. Similarly, many people in rural areas depend on fossil fuels (for heating and travel) and they need to be supported to switch.

Some people will not take action unless they can see a benefit in it for them

Greenwashing. The need to recycle fabric and make informed purchasing decisions Related to the suggestions raised under Topic 2 – Government Goals and Policies, delegates discussed the need to have mechanisms to fully inform the public on how the items they purchase are produced. They noted that only 2% of fabrics are recycled.

Too much greenwashing (companies and people profit off [by]misleading members of the public

[in]to purchasing/doing actions that are supposed to be green but are not). Business and companies are advertising that they are protecting the environment

without taking any [real] action

What is needed? Support people employed by peat industry make transition to sustainable energy Delegates also discussed the impact of transitioning to sustainable energy for people employed by the peat industry. • Find alternative employment/income for people employed in peat industry

As part of the Just Transition in the move to renewable energy, delegates felt it was important to ensure that action is taken to ensure those involved in the fossil fuel industry are reskilled and do not lose their jobs.

As you move to renewable energy, important to find transition for people who will lose their jobs Invest more into upskilling fossil fuel workers into renewable energy skills, divest entirely from fossil

fuels (including LNG) & start focusing now on renewable energy, not waiting for 2030

Support farmers that are trying to do better with their emissions around methane

Plans and assistance for small-scale farmers in doing their bit of the climate

Support people on low incomes For a Just transition, people with lower incomes need to be supported. Households need more support than retro fitting, electric cars – e.g. oil and gas are very expensive, but alternatives are expensive as well. The delegates called for more incentives to encourage and support people with lower incomes to take action.

Most of the suggested actions centred on bringing ordinary people /rural people along with the climate action agenda by making it easier for them to adapt to sustainable living. Suggested actions included:

• Government offering incentives e.g., make electric cars more affordable, tax cuts and empowering consumers to ‘vote with their wallets’ by choosing green • Offer subsidies for more sustainable transport (electric vehicles / public transport) & more fast chargers. • Government to provide support to retrofitting older buildings – make larger grants and loans more accessible • Subsidise sustainable energy to make it cheaper • Have allowance/adjustments in taxes depending on use of sustainable sources (reduced tax for greener practices)

Incentivise renewable lifestyles for people Less taxes, more incentives; promote people to act rather than penalise them.

Stronger grants and loans that the places we interact with can benefit

Incentives and support for those in the Rural Areas (Transport, EVs) Ensuring that those who work in the primary economic sector are not forgotten about

• preventing animosity towards climate action

Reduce the harm caused by the fashion industry Delegates highlighted the importance of having standards and labelling to empower people make better decisions with fashion. They called for an end of ‘fast fashion’.

Introduce Standards and ECO labels for food and clothing

End Fast Fashion Mandatory eco labelling- esp. for fashion

The delegates called for action on ‘greenwashing’, calling on the Government to take action against it.

Business and companies are advertising that they are protecting the environment

without taking any [real] action

What difference will this make? • More just transition to sustainable energy • Just transition – saving money for low income households. • More low income people make the transition to sustainable energy • Enable people and businesses to go green (people and industry) – fewer emissions • Large industry more likely to move to sustainable energy • Income from tax and fines to be re-directed to supporting sustainable transitions. • Reduced greenwashing and people will be able to make more informed purchasing.