A DONEGAL woman is part of an independent body calling on the government to develop a bold and forward-looking strategy for national climate action.

Michelle Murphy is a member of Ireland’s Just Transition Commission, which has published its first report, urging the government to develop a bold and forward-looking strategy that places just transition at the heart of national climate action.

Ms Murphy, research and policy analyst with Social Justice Ireland, is part of the 11-member Commission.

Speaking during the launch of its report in recent days, Ms Murphy said: “Ireland must now move much faster and with much more ambition if we are to keep the people and places we care about safe from the effects of climate change, and to seize the unprecedented opportunity that a just transition offers to build a fairer, more inclusive, and resilient society.”

The Commission is calling on the Government to urgently develop a bold, nationwide strategy that sets out how Ireland’s approach to climate action will ensure a fair and inclusive transition to a climate-neutral society, one that delivers benefits for all, especially those most vulnerable to the transition.

The Just Transition Commission, as an independent advisory body, is focused on bringing fresh thinking and a constructive, thoughtful approach to helping Ireland move faster and fairly on climate change. The Commission aims to serve not only as a public voice for just transition, but also as a public ear,learning directly from those on the frontlines of change.

In its first report, the Commission outlines initial recommendations for how the Government should ensure that the transition to a climate-neutral economy is fair and benefits everyone.

Key recommendations include a deeper understanding of vulnerabilities related to climate action by identifying at-risk groups through sector-specific, geographic, and intersectional lenses to ensure no one is overlooked in the transition.

The Commission added: “Climate breakdown is worsening, and the impacts will be felt more widely and acutely across our country in the coming years.”