School children take over Ireland’s parliament for climate crisis debate

In what has been described as a “major first,” Ireland’s parliament was taken over by 157 young people from across the country on Friday as they discussed the climate crisis in Ireland’s first Youth Assembly.

Aged between 10 and 17, the young people selected were from the Republic of Ireland’s 26 counties and were invited to the parliament’s lower house, the Dáil, and called on adults to take action on their recommendations to help tackle pressing environmental issues.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl, chair of the lower house, described the Youth Assembly as a “historic meeting” and said it was fitting that “one of the greatest challenges of our time, if not the greatest challenges of our time” should be debated by representatives of Ireland’s younger generation.

After introductory remarks from selected speakers, the representatives took part in workshops and then presented their 10 proposals to the chair.

Among the recommendations made was banning imported fracked gas, labeling and pricing to illustrate the climate impact of food products and for Ireland to “outlaw acts of ecocide.”

“The government has said it will listen to what you bring forward here today,” said Ó Fearghaíl as he opened proceedings.

“I know a lot of fear has been engendered in relation to the issue of climate change. We should all be worried about the future of our planet … We older people should be ashamed of the planet we are now passing on to you.

“You have serious issues to address to make this world a safe habitable space in which to live for the decades ahead … leave fear at the door and enter your discussions with optimism, with realism and with knowledge.”

The Youth Assembly is part of the Dáil’s centenary celebrations and is being broadcast live by national broadcaster RTE as part of its climate week, as well as parliament’s own TV channel.

“This Youth Assembly is a major first for us,” said Ó Fearghaíl. “It is an example of national parliament and national broadcaster working in the national interest.”

The climate crisis has become one of the predominant issues of the age. In September, the third Global Climate Strike organized by school students took place in a number of locations across the world, calling for the adults in charge to take more decisive action.