Sinn Féin's spokesperson on Climate Action Brian Stanley TD has hit out at the government over its "short sighted" approach to climate change.

Mr Stanley was speaking yesterday, 04 December, as the Annual Transition Statement was released.

The statement sets out information on key policy developments and climate change mitigation and adaptation activity.

Deputy Stanley said: "Key to displacing fossil fuels on this island will be the development of a very wide portfolio of renewable energy sources. Offshore wind, biogas, biomass and solar are resources we can develop. It will take joined up thinking to utilise these. For example planning reform for offshore projects, alternative crops and practice for agriculture, and a transformation of the transport network. But this Government has not moved in this space yet.

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"Vision is still lacking. The government mentions in the Annual Statement the conversation of moving Moneypoint Power Plant away from coal by the middle of the next decade but no decision on what it will convert too has yet been made. From what has been said it seems the State will just convert the plant to natural gas, at a cost of €1 billion.

"Climate change has often been described as thinking globally and acting locally. This Government has at its heart a short sighted approach. This Government is not thinking of the global problem nor acting locally, nationally developing the wide sources of energy we need and applying clear sectoral targets. Vision is needed and action is needed now."

He also called on Ireland to lead by example and develop the wide ranging renewable energy sources available.

(CM)