Ireland urged to tax fossil fuel profits and phase out coal, oil, gas

The Laudato Si' Movement, a European coalition of Christian organizations focused on climate justice, has called on Ireland to introduce a windfall tax on fossil fuel profits and commit to a rapid phase-out of coal, oil, and gas.

The movement, inspired by Pope Francis's encyclical on climate change, argues that Ireland should align with EU goals while ensuring social cohesion and environmental responsibility. At a meeting with the Taoiseach, representatives warned that EU competitiveness should not overshadow climate action, rural development, or human dignity.

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In advocating for values, in the spirit of Laudato Si', I discern that the EU may have to accept less growth to ensure that we respond to the cry of the poor in the Global South affected by climate change.

Bishop Martin Hayes, coordinator for the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference, linked Ireland's recent high temperatures to its reliance on fossil fuels. He suggested that the EU might need to accept slower economic growth to address the needs of the Global South, which is disproportionately affected by climate change. "Rather than continuing to extract from the earth to sustain our economies, we must deepen our appreciation of the gift of the earth and its ecology to provide for the common good," he stated.

The coalition has proposed a legally binding strategy to exit coal by 2030, gas by 2035, and oil by 2040, coupled with an immediate ban on new fossil fuel exploration. They advocate for a permanent windfall tax on fossil fuel companies' profits to fund the energy transition and protect vulnerable households from rising living costs. The group also called for increased investment in energy efficiency, renewable energy, electrification, and the circular economy, prioritizing human dignity and social justice over corporate interests in the EU's upcoming budget.

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Rather than continuing to extract from the earth to sustain our economies, we must deepen our appreciation of the gift of the earth and its ecology to provide for the common good.