- The Republic of Ireland has declared a climate and biodiversity emergency, to be the second country after Britain to do so.
- A Fianna Fáil amendment to the Oireachtas report on Climate Action was accepted without a vote on May 9, 2019.
- The Fianna Fáil amendment was moved by the party’s climate action spokesman Timmy Dooley.
- Irish Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, who moved the amendment, called the decision historic.
- Britain’s parliament became the first in the world to declare a climate emergency, passing the largely symbolic motion on 1 May. The step followed 11 days of street protests in London by the Extinction Rebellion environmental campaign group.
- Extinction Rebellion’s ultimate goal is to slash global greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2025 and to end biodiversity loss, steps that have won the backing of left-leaning politicians across the world.
- The British government is eyeing a 2050 target date to reach net zero emissions, which it says can be achieved without causing substantial economic damage and at a relatively low cos
- Thunberg, the 16-year-old activist who has spearheaded protests across Europe and is becoming one of the most passionate voices of the green movement, urged more nations to follow suit.
