Carbon emission cutbacks a huge challenge

THIS country faces a huge challenge, if it is to meet the targeted carbon emission reduction, according to Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan.

Yesterday, the minister reacted to projections from the Economic and Social Research Institute which suggest Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions will have risen by nearly 5% in 2007.

Mr Ryan said his reaction was not to dispute the underlying fundamental analysis, but the true figures will only be known later this year. He described the projected figures as a real challenge, but one the Government is determined to meet by creating jobs in the new eco-tech sector.

While the Government promised to reduce emissions by 3% each year, they are projected to go up by 5% — an eight-point gap.

Prof Richard Tol and Prof John Fitzgerald of the ESRI told the Committee on Climate and Energy Security this summer that a carbon tax would be the cheapest and most effective way of Ireland moving towards the targets. Prof Tol said its benefits were that it would be uniform, predictable and easily understandable.

The ESRI said the target set by the EU was unduly onerous. Ireland, along with Denmark and Luxembourg, has been asked to cut greenhouse gases by 20% compared with 2005 levels.