On Saturday, 15th November, the Stop Climate Chaos coalition will assemble at 13:00 in Parnell Square, Dublin.
BirdWatch Ireland calls on its members to join it, and its human-sized Puffin, at the Dublin Climate Demonstration.
This Saturday, BirdWatch Ireland will join with thousands of people across the country who are participating the National Climate Demonstration, part of a worldwide day of action demanding an end the era of fossil fuels.
The Dublin demonstration is organised by the Stop Climate Chaos coalition – which includes over 30 civil society organisations, including BirdWatch Ireland – and is supported by trade unions, student groups and local community organisations.
Seabirds in the Northern Hemisphere that feed on fish are the most impacted by climate change – coupled with the impact of overfishing. The reproductive success of these seabirds is already in decline. Research in the UK shows that 14 seabird species are at risk of decline or already in decline due to climate change (e.g., rising temperatures and severe weather events such as storms and floods). These include the iconic Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica), which is predicted to lose up to 90% of its population across Britain and Ireland by 2050, should things continue down this path.
Andrew Kelly, CEO of BirdWatch Ireland says, “Ireland’s seabirds are the birds most threatened here by climate change. We have to do everything we can to end reliance on fossil fuels and speed up the roll-out of renewables, but in a way that doesn’t also impact seabirds. Ireland is very important globally for seabirds and we have to work hard to safeguard their future.”
2024 was confirmed as the hottest year on record. The window for meaningful action is rapidly closing. Repeated IPCC reports have made clear that anything beyond 1.5°C poses catastrophic risks to human life, ecosystems and economic stability.
Throughout the world, communities are demanding faster and fairer climate action. With COP30 underway in Brazil, civil society groups and members of the public are calling time on corporate greed driving the climate crisis.
In 2025, BirdWatch Ireland published important areas for seabirds that require protection. Government still has not acted on designating further Special Protection Areas for seabirds or on progressing the Marine Protected Area legislation. Special Protection Areas in the open sea are critical to protect habitat for seabirds for all parts of their lifecycle and their designation and protection is a legal obligation on the State.
Oonagh Duggan, Head of Policy and Advocacy stated “Ireland’s iconic Puffins are already Red-listed and in serious trouble. We stand to lose 90% of them by 2050 if we continue on our current emission-intensive path and don’t protect and restore areas at sea for them. BirdWatch Ireland has identified Important Bird Areas for Puffins and other seabirds and these must be designated by government as Special Protection Areas as soon as possible.”
