Extinction Rebellion targets the Port of Cork demanding action on climate change

Environmental campaigners Extinction Rebellion have targeted the Port of Cork in their latest protest.

Signs emblazoned with slogans such as "Port of CO2" and "Business as Usual??" were attached to the Port of Cork sign at Custom House Quay.

The group said the action was carried out in a non-violent and non-destructive way.

Extinction Rebellion is an environmental movement aiming to draw public and government attention to the need to tackle climate change.

In April and July, the group staged ‘die-in’ protests, on Oliver Plunkett Street and outside City Hall, where participants symbolically played dead to mimic an apocalypse. 

The protest group is adamant that radical action must be taken to immediately halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2030. 

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions per person are among the highest of any country in the world. In 2017 Ireland’s agriculture sector was higher than both its transport and energy sectors in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, coming in at a third of the country’s overall emissions. 

In 2018, imports by ship into Cork increased by 8% and exports increased by 5%. 

"The most growth was seen in the agri-food sector, including animal feed, fertilizers, and cereals, which increased by 39% over the year," Extinction Rebellion said.

Through this protest, Extinction Rebellion Cork say they plan to do what they can to force the Irish Government and The Port of Cork to take drastic action in order to raise awareness to the general public and companies that they must be held accountable for the products they produce and the environmental impact their practices cause.

Activist Matt Jones commented: “We are tired of false promises from the current government, which is not taking urgent actions required to steer us away from runaway climate change. Imports into Cork, particularly cattle feed and coal, continue to devastate our ecological systems."