De Brún calls for EU action on climate change

Sinn Féin MEP Bairbre de Brún has called for a focus on effective action and social justice to be at the heart of any recommendations from a newly-formed climate change committee at the European Parliament.
Speaking from the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 21 June, as the new committee set out its work programme and initial priorities, de Brún said:
“Tasked with including the representations of high level speakers, experts from the scientific community and wider civil society, this committee will examine best practice globally, with a view to producing concrete recommendations to deal with the pressing issue of climate change.
“I am delighted to be a member of this committee; at a time when we are gradually learning more about the effects of climate change, not only at home, but across the developing world. It is imperative that we take swift and effective action. The Temporary Committee on Climate Change will be able to look at different scenarios and at different possible levels of global warming on the basis of expert advice. It will be able to look at actions that are needed now but also to look towards the European Parliament’s position with a view to negotiating the international framework for climate policy after 2012.
“At a conference I chaired in Brussels last week, we heard first hand how inaction will lead to reduced economic growth, adverse weather conditions, increased poverty and mass migration”.
“The European Parliament committee on climate change will have an important role in preparing the way forward. I look forward to participating fully in this committee and ensuring that our focus on effective action and social justice is at the core of the recommendations.”