‘We need to tackle biggest polluters’
A NEW ‘green dream’ has emerged in Ireland this weekend and its rising star, Saoirse McHugh, has a message for the Government.
The 28-year-old Achill Island native has warned that politicians need to stop shifting the responsibility for the climate crisis on to individuals as a way to avoid tackling big business.
Citing consumerfocused movements such as a reduction in meat and dairy consumption and the drive for paper straws, McHugh said, “they [the Government] are pushing the responsibilities downwards”, before adding, “we need to address the entire system”.
She explained: “There are 100 companies in the world who are responsible for 70pc of greenhouse gas emissions — so while I think personal action is good, sometimes I think there is too much emphasis on it.”
She continued: “I really would like to focus on the fact that it’s not down to individual choices. I think that’s what damages a lot of environmental movements — that people feel burdened. I am crippled with guilt in every aspect of my life and it’s an awful way to live — what we need to do is tackle the biggest polluters.”
Ms McHugh, a firsttime candidate, was last night in contention to take one of the four Midlands North West seats behind Fine Gael’s Mairead McGuinness and Sinn Fein’s Matt Carthy.