Transport is the key to Kyoto, says Labour

LABOUR last night demanded major investment in public transport as a way to tempt people out of their cars and reduce Ireland’s spiralling greenhouse gas emissions.

The party’s environment spokesman Eamon Gilmore warned immediate action was needed if the country was to get a grip on pollution and meet its Kyoto Accord obligations.

The call came in the wake of a damning environmental report showing Ireland was pumping nearly twice the additional amount of global warming pollution into the atmosphere permitted under the clean energy treaty.

The Irish Government pledged in 1998 that greenhouse gas emissions would be limited to 13% above 1990 levels, between 2008 and 2012, but the Central Statistics Office found the current level was 23% above 1990 levels.

“Phenomenal increases from the Irish transport sector have been cited by the European Environment Agency as cause for particular concern,” Deputy Gilmore said.

“From 1997-2004 there was a 62% increase in carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles, corresponding directly to the major rise in traffic.

“The Environmental Protection Agency singled out the transport sector, years ago, as a significant source of air pollution in Ireland. Yet the Government continually ignored such warnings.

“Inadequate road and rail infrastructure, a poor public transport system, plus flawed planning will continue to result in more cars stuck in traffic jams, which of course, pushes up our greenhouse emission levels.

“What is needed is proper integrated action between the Environment, Transport, Energy and Agriculture Departments to tackle this problem,” added Deputy Gilmore.

Environment Minister John O’Donoghue said he was confident Ireland would meet its international commitments, and added that he is preparing new measures to force down emission levels.

“We have already implemented a wide range of measures,” he said, citing new building regulations, waste management, renewable energy, and biofuel initiatives.

“However, I believe significant scope remains for further measures to be introduced across all sectors of the economy,” he said.

Green TD Dan Boyle warned Ireland could face a total bill of €1.5 billion if it fails to comply with Kyoto.