Row back on Mayo climate emergency 'incomprehensible'

AN attempt by some members of Mayo County Council to revoke the declaration of a climate and biodiversity emergency has been described as 'incomprehensible' and 'irresponsible' by the Mayo Greens, given the undeniable climate crisis that is already a reality.

Mayo Green Party chairperson Liam Heffron said the regressive move was completely at odds with national and global political thinking.

“It was hard to understand, given that it is nothing other than a declaration of fact, why councillors could claim that it was 'tantamount to terrorism' or that it would have negative consequences for the county,” he said.

Rowing back on the declaration would have far more serious and negative consequences, said Mr. Heffron, and would put Mayo at far greater risk of being left behind.

It would also put the county at odds with national government policy and the foresight of 17 other local authorities around the country who have already passed a climate emergency declaration.

The Irish government declared a climate and biodiversity emergency two years ago.

He stated: “It’s shocking that councillors in this day and age would make the claim that a declaration like this is a step too far because we are a ‘highly rural county on the western seaboard’ - like we are in some way disconnected from the rest of the country or the world,” Heffron said. “It makes no sense at all and it’s a disservice to the people who have elected them.

“It’s like complaining about the weather when you’re standing in a hurricane,” he said.

“This declaration was a welcome statement of intent. It told us that Mayo County Council accepted that decisions made for the county in the future would be hardwired to the climate emergency we are already living with. That’s the sentiment that is already on almost every page of the new county development plan.

“If this type of declaration is rowed back on, what faith can we have in the veracity of the new plan?”