The Irish Times informs us that a coalition of Irish organisations entitled “Stop Climate Chaos� has been formed to lobby and campaign: “…to ensure Ireland plays its part in preventing runaway climate change�.

The coalition calls on the Government to

1. Ensure Ireland does its fair share to prevent climate chaos by immediately bringing in a climate change law which provides for an annual Carbon Budget and 3% year-on-year reductions in Irish greenhouse gas emissions.
2. Push for an international agreement to keep the rise in global temperatures to 2 degrees C or less. This means global greenhouse gas emissions must reach their peak and begin to decline irreversibly within 10 years.
3. Support developing countries to adapt to the unavoidable effects of climate change.

So, climate change has now definitely joined Godzilla and pasta in the ranks of “political� issues, requiring the Broadcasting Commisison of Ireland (by its lights) to ensure that any radio advertisements of the Stop Climate Change coalition are not aired on Irish commercial radio.

Furthermore, on the available report it would appear the the Standards in Public Office Commision also has a role to play in keeping track of, and curbing, this “third partyâ€?. (See Section 23C of the Electoral Act 1997, as inserted by Section 49 of the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2001) where you will find a definition of “political purpose”.