Over four thousand people took to the streets of Dublin on Saturday to protest against what they describe as a lack of action on climate change.
Dublin Climate Protest Demands End to Fossil Fuels
Demonstrators travelled from across the country to participate in the march, which was organized by the Stop Climate Chaos coalition and timed to coincide with the midpoint of the COP31 UN climate talks in Türkiye.
Participants called on the Government to take its responsibilities on climate action seriously while ensuring everyday life remains affordable. Specific demands included lower energy bills, affordable public transport, and a ban on liquefied natural gas terminals.
The demonstration comes as negotiations continue at the COP31 climate summit, where countries remain deeply divided over how quickly the world should move away from fossil fuels after a week of talks.
Last month, a UN report found that the world is on course to exceed the 1.5 degrees Celsius warming threshold, a limit scientists say should prevent the worst effects of climate change. Protesters argued that international decisions must be matched by meaningful domestic changes in Ireland.
Did You Know? A UN report released last month warned that the world is currently on course to exceed the 1.5 degrees Celsius warming threshold, a temperature limit that scientists state is necessary to prevent the worst effects of climate change.
Campaigners Target Planned Gas Terminals and Data Centres
Speakers at the protest emphasized that economic pressures and environmental policies are deeply intertwined for the public. Deirdre Duffy, CEO of Friends of the Earth Ireland, addressed the crowds regarding the connection between household expenses and government policy.
“People aren’t marching today for another round of climate promises,” Duffy said, as reported by TheJournal.ie. “They’re marching because they can’t afford the bus fare or their heating bill and they know the two are connected.”
Duffy also criticized the current political focus at the EU summit, stating that decisions must bring immediate changes locally.
“The biggest threat that we are facing at the moment is not war it’s climate breakdown and what we have heard this week at the EU summit is a lot of talk about war and defence and security,” Duffy said.
She added: “We are saying here in the streets today is that we want to see real fast action on climate and particularly ending fossil fuels and so our key ask today is that the Government does not build a new gas LNG terminal in Co Clare.”
In addition to halting the Co Clare project, campaigners urged authorities to address energy poverty and prioritize clean renewable energy for households, hospitals, and schools rather than supporting large data centres.
Environmental Coalitions Warn of High Emissions
Sam Moran from the stop LNG coalition outlined the specific environmental risks associated with the proposed infrastructure development during the demonstration.
“If the fracked gas terminal goes ahead the gas would be 33 per cent worse than coal in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and it would be twice as bad as the gas that we currently use,” Moran said.
He added: “The reason they are doing this is to promote data centre growth and we just cannot be doing this with everything that is going on around the world due to climate change – Ireland has to play our part.”
Earlier this year, the Government’s planned LNG terminal faced criticism for being fundamentally incompatible with national climate policy. Protesters in Dublin also called for the publication of the 2026 Climate Action Plan, which has experienced delays.
Youth and International Perspectives on Climate Policy
Student and union representatives at the Dublin march argued that environmental sustainability is inseparable from economic and social stability for younger generations. Laura Quinn, a Business Studies student, spoke about how current policy decisions affect other sectors.
“We are marching because climate action cannot be treated as a separate issue from the economic and social challenges facing young people in Ireland,” Quinn told TheJournal.ie. She added: “A fossil-free future is not simply an environmental ambition; it is an investment in our health, our economic resilience and our long-term quality of life.”
Jennie Stephens, co-convenor of The Climate Justice Universities Union, also argued that educational institutions must take a firmer stance against corporate capture and climate obstruction. Meanwhile, speaking from the COP31 summit in Antalya, Seán McLoughlin of Christian Aid Ireland said that the absence of domestic leadership on climate goals has drawn attention internationally, pointing out that officials leading the EU delegation have previously dragged their heels on domestic implementation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did protesters gather in Dublin?
Over four thousand people gathered in Dublin to protest against a perceived lack of action on climate change, demand an end to fossil fuels, and call for lower energy bills and affordable public transport, coinciding with the COP31 summit in Türkiye.
What specific infrastructure projects are protesters opposing?
Demonstrators are specifically calling for a ban on liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals, including a planned fracked gas terminal in Co Clare, which campaigners argue will drive up greenhouse gas emissions to support data centre growth.
What did organizers demand regarding government policy and transparency?
Organizers from the Stop Climate Chaos coalition and Friends of the Earth Ireland demanded the immediate publication of the delayed 2026 Climate Action Plan and urged the Government to prioritize clean renewable energy for households, schools, and hospitals over big data centres.
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