Ireland must learn lessons on climate and cost of living from Spain and global progressives

Speaking at a mass gathering of global progressives and world leaders in Barcelona, hosted by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Labour Party Leader Ivana Bacik has highlighted the lessons Ireland can learn on addressing the challenges of climate change and the cost of living crisis.

Deputy Bacik is attending the Global Progressive Mobilisation, a joint initiative of our Party of European Socialists, our Spanish sister Party the PSOE, the Progressive Alliance, Socialist International and others. She is there with fellow Irish leaders, Esther Lynch, Secretary General of the European Trade Union Confederation, and Claire Hanna, leader of the SDLP.
Deputy Bacik participated as leader of Labour, the Irish affiliate to PES, and as an invited speaker at the GPM, on panels addressing climate change, the cost of living crisis and progressive feminism.

Deputy Bacik said:
“As billions around the world are impacted by the economic turmoil caused by Trump’s illegal war and chaotic trade agenda, it has never been more important for global progressives to gather to debate solutions and exchange ideas.

“Reactionary right-wing forces are driving higher prices and doubling down on fossil fuels. That’s why Ireland must learn important lessons from Left governments in countries like Spain that have already made the decision to invest in renewables, curb climate emissions and deliver cheaper electricity, ensuring families and businesses are now insulated from price shocks due to war in the Middle East.

“Yesterday I was privileged to speak on a climate panel with other speakers including Guy Ryder, Under Secretary General of the United Nations and Frederico Assis, Special Envoy to the Brazilian COP30. As our panel recognized, climate is a class issue and the climate crisis is a global emergency that we can only address through working together, to ensure a just green transition that delivers secure energy and that protects our biodiversity and nature, our environment and habitats. Just as Spanish Socialists have led a renewables revolution based on solar power, so too we in Ireland must deliver a renewables revolution by harnessing wind power – onshore and offshore. Our global progressive gathering has committed to working at international and national level to achieve radical change on climate, housing, workers’ rights, women’s rights and the cost of living – for all our communities.’

ENDS