Petition Update June 2020:

Not Here Not Anywhere has been campaigning on offshore drilling since 2017, and in that time we have seen progress and changes in government policy. A Bill to ban the issuing of new licences for any offshore exploration, the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Amendment) (Climate Emergency Measures) Bill 2018, passed the second stage in the Dáil in 2019 [1], but was thwarted by the then government’s “money message” [2] tactic. After sustained pressure from climate groups, in September 2019 then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced a ban on the issuing of new licences for oil drilling in 80% of Irish waters, which was subsequently extended to all waters. The Policy Statement issued by DCCAE on 17th December 2019 makes it explicit that all future licensing will be for gas-only and not oil [3]. While this new policy is welcome, not only does it not stop the issuing of licences for gas exploration, it also does not stop exploration activity happening on existing licences exploration.

Original petition:

On 11th July, just one week after onshore fracking was banned in Ireland, Minister of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Denis Naughten, granted consent to oil & gas drilling by Providence Resources PLC in the Porcupine Basin off our south-west coast [4]. They expect to find 5 billion barrels of oil [5].

In an Orwellian twist, a “Department of Climate Action” has allowed for the burning of 5 billion barrels of oil when international climate experts state that 80% of the known fossil fuels have to stay in the ground if we want to avoid going over the safe 2 degrees limit of global warming [6].

Any investment in fossil fuel industry and infrastructure will result in what is known as “carbon lock-in”, taking us on a one-way unstoppable trip to dangerous levels of global warming that threaten global health and eco-systems [7].

Oil and gas exploration is also deadly for Ireland’s unique dolphin, whale and porpoise population [8] and plankton, the basis of the marine ecosystem [9]. Yet, Minister Naughten has refused to confirm if drilling will stop if a threat to the population is found [10].

We call on Minister Naughten to retract the Providence Resources permit immediately. Furthermore, we call on the Minister to follow the lead of France [11] and ban all new oil and gas exploration in Irish waters.

We need to halt all dead investments in the fossil fuel industry and prepare a just transition to an economy that can provide workers with real, sustainable long-term jobs that can provide for their families and their future [12].

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[1]https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/bills/bill/2018/9/

[2]https://www.uplift.ie/2020/02/05/money-message-research/

[3]https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/natural-resources/publications/Documents/62/Policy%20Statement%20Petroleum%20Exploration%20and%20Production%20Activities.pdf

[4] http://www.independent.ie/business/world/providence-resources-commences-drilling-off-the-southwest-coast-of-ireland-35921724.html

[5] http://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/amp/news/180745

[6] http://www.carbontracker.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Unburnable-Carbon-Full-rev2-1.pdf

[7]http://priceofoil.org/2016/09/22/the-skys-limit-report/

[8] http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2014/02/140228-atlantic-seismic-whales-mammals/

[9] https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/23/15861932/offshore-drilling-airgun-seismic-surveys-zooplankton-death-oceans

[10] https://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2017-02-07a.382

[11]http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/france-ban-new-oil-gas-exploration-stop-granting-licences-macron-hulot-renewable-energy-drive-a7806161.html

[12] http://www.impact.ie/climate-change-workers-communities-must-protected-just-transition-carbon-free-economy-says-impact/