Kyoto Day

Press Release 16 February 2005

Greens welcome Kyoto Protocol but say a lot more needs to be done to tackle climate change

The Green Party is calling on Dick Roche, Minister for the Environment, and the Government to immediately take action to cut carbon emissions in Ireland by improving energy efficiency in homes; investing in and promoting renewable energies; reducing car dependency through investment in public transport and better planning; and introducing a carbon tax.

Ciarán Cuffe TD Green Party spokesperson for the Environment said that, “Building construction plays a huge part in determining greenhouse gas emissions. If we tighten up our building regulations today, we will reap substantial benefits in the years to come. For instance, the Green Party wants new homes to come with an energy label. Fridges have energy labels, so why shouldn’t houses? The Government is dragging its feet on this issue. Last year we collected €2 billion on stamp duty but spent only €770,000 on the House of the Future energy conservation research project.”

“We want higher insulation standards in new homes. That means lower energy bills and better compliance with the Kyoto Protocol. We want incentives for householders to install solar panels, high efficiency boilers and geo-thermal heating systems. This isn’t rocket science; it’s the practical application of new building technologies that can save money.”

“Planning has a key role to play in meeting our requirements under

Kyoto. It’s not good enough to simply allow the market decide on crucial planning issues. Rezoning half of Co. Laois does not make sense. That will involve more people travelling longer distances to work, mostly by car and creating more greenhouse gases. We want ‘smart growth’, such as higher densities in new home construction, rather than urban sprawl. The Minister for the Environment Dick Roche must ensure that any rezonings make sense and that they constitute sustainable development.”

Green Party Leader Trevor Sargent TD said today that, “The Green Party warmly welcomes the coming into force of the Kyoto Protocol. This is a small but vital step in tackling climate change.”

“The potentially catastrophic effects of unfolding climate change cannot be underestimated. Even as we speak scientists worldwide are pleading for a cut of 60-80% in current CO2 emissions according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.”

“The Kyoto Protocol has the modest aim of a 5.2% global reduction in 1990 CO₂ levels by 2012 at the latest. The generous derogation given to Ireland allows for an increase of 13% by 2012. We are currently falling far short of this target as greenhouse gas emissions are now 25% above the 1990 levels.”

“Meanwhile the Irish Government continues to deny the gravity of climate change and is guilty of total inaction on this issue. The Green Party in Ireland is determined to ensure that all people can have a good quality of life in a truly sustainable society rather than one which is hell bent on its own destruction.”

Green Party Deputy Leader Councillor Mary White said that, “The lifting of excise duty on the production of bio fuels would act as an incentive to the fledgling bio fuels industry. For example, ethanol can reduce emissions by a whopping 55% on fossil fuels when sugar beet is used a source of bioethanol. Despite the Biofuels Directive (2003), the Government has made no real attempt to meet Ireland's targets which state that biofuels must reach 2% of all transport fuels sold by 2005 and 5.75% by 2010.”

“Traffic congestion affects many people in Ireland today. My area of Carlow has seen a huge increase in people moving to live there. It has also seen a large increase in car commuting and traffic jams. Yet the number of trains to and from Carlow has barely increased. Poor planning and poor public transport is beginning to grind down hard-pressed commuters.”

Eamon Ryan TD, Green Party spokesperson for Transport, Enterprise, Trade and Employment said that, “To reduce our greenhouse gas emissions it is vital that the Government invest in a proper public transport system. We need public transport projects such as the Dublin Metro, new Cork Suburban rail services, and the Western Rail line to help develop our economy and society.”

“The Government’s €1.7 billion investment plan in public transport up to 2008 is really only €500 million if you deduct the annual subvention of €1.2 billion to CIE. This stands in abject comparison to the €7 billion allocated to road building.”

“The Government’s capital budget sets out where we see Irish society evolving in the future. It is impossible to understand, given the scientific information on climate change which is now emerging, why the Government is spending four times more of our capital budget on new roads than on public transport.”

“Last year the Government blew €2 billion on our annual oil import bill while spending a miniscule €1.8 million on research and development into new renewable energies. That is less than the Government spends on its PR. With oil production likely to peak sooner rather than later it makes both environmental and business sense for the Government to significantly increase its funding of the entire renewable energy sector. Revenues from a carbon tax could help fund increased investment in this area.”

“We can’t buy our way out of the Kyoto Protocol for ever. A carbon tax is necessary to tackle climate change, would have a positive effect on the economy and will help avoid a multi-million euro bill being loaded onto the Irish taxpayer.”

Ciarán Cuffe is a TD for the Dún Laoghaire Dáil Constituency. Ciarán can be contacted at Dáil Éireann, Kildare Street, Dublin 2 or 96 Patrick Street, Dún Laoghaire Tel. 284 6060 or 618 3082, Fax 618 4341, Email Ciaran CiaranCuffe.com