A striking phenomenon in the recent history of climate change politics: Geography Environmental Policies Assignment, UCD, Ireland

ABSTRACT

A striking phenomenon in the recent history of climate change politics has
been the declaration of ‘climate emergencies’ in many countries. Ireland was the second country to do so on 9 May 2019. What does it mean in political and
institutional terms to treat climate change as an emergency? Drawing on recent literature in environmental politics as well as the Copenhagen School of security studies, this article identifies four characteristics of emergency politics: policy prioritisation, mobilisation of resources, the role of experts in policymaking, and oversight and scrutiny of government decision-making.

It then analyses the Irish state’s response to date to the climate crisis in terms of these four characteristics. The article argues that Ireland’s response to date falls considerably short of the kind of response we might expect to be associated with emergency politics. It concludes with a normative reflection on the politics of climate emergencies.

INTRODUCTION

In the opening months of 2020, many governments around the world acted with remarkable speed in taking action to combat the spread of Covid-19, though with considerable variation between countries and regions. Many of the measures imposed, such as lockdowns and other restrictions on public movement, closure of businesses and of schools and universities, were without parallel in living memory.

The speed and scale of governmental responses led many to draw parallels with another looming global challenge, namely the climate crisis. For many years, climate scientists and environmental activists sought to draw attention to the dangers posed by uncontrolled climate change, with seemingly little traction.