Action on climate-legislation has been strengthened significantly at national and international levels this week, with members of the European Parliament today voting in favour of the new European Climate Law; and yesterday’s* publication of the Climate Action (Amendment) Bill in the Dáil.Green Party MEPs Grace O’Sullivan and Ciarán Cuffe have welcomed the news that will, they say, put Ireland and Europe in a position of growing strength in the global fight against climate change.Green Party MEP Ciarán Cuffe: "This is good news. The European Parliament is showing leadership on the climate crisis. Now it is up to the European Commission and national governments to maintain this momentum.“Science is telling us that we need to go further, faster. Nothing less than a transformation of our economy is needed, and we have to ensure that this is done in a fair manner. Yesterday's vote shows that movements such as Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion are having an impact on climate policies, and I welcome this. This must now be translated into national policies and plans across the EU. It's great to see work is already underway in Ireland with yesterday's* launch of the Climate Action Bill".Grace O’Sullivan, MEP Ireland South and Green Party Spokesperson on Marine:“This is a pivotal moment and emotional week for me. I’ve spent my entire working life campaigning and agitating for action on climate change. I’m not being flippant when I say – you wait 35 years for a bus and along comes two! I’m acutely aware of the need for even further ambition in the fight to save the planet from the ravages of the climate emergency we are in, but it is hugely encouraging that we have these dramatic progressions in both national and international climate legislation happening within hours of each other.“We are on borrowed time if we are to have any hope of avoiding an irreversible wipeout of life on our planet. National and international legally binding commitments lend weight to our fight against time. This news will help to ensure that every decision we make as individuals and as nations is benchmarked against the goal of climate neutrality.”Background:Ahead of the final vote on the EU Climate Law, a vote in favour of an amendment calling for a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030, sees the Climate Law going beyond the European Commission's 55% climate target. The European Parliament will now enter into negotiations with the Council and Commission in a strong position.The first European Climate Law brings the Paris climate goals closer to reality. The European Parliament is laying the foundations for climate protection for the next 30 years. The European Climate Law sets the starting point for limiting global warming to a maximum of 1.5 degrees and will boost the European Green Deal in terms of climate protection, a greener economy and new jobs.The Green Party yesterday welcomed the publication of the Government's Climate Action (Amendment) Bill 2020. Following on from commitments in the Programme for Government to achieve an average 7% per annum reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions over the next decade, the Climate Action Bill commits Ireland, in law, to achieving carbon neutrality by the year 2050. The Bill is described as a comprehensive implementation of the climate governance recommendations from the Citizens Assembly and a cross-party Oireachtas Joint Committee on Climate Action.ENDS