Urgent call for plan on climate change

Pressure is mounting on the Government to produce a workable plan to tackle greenhouse gas emissions following the latest warning from experts that a major shift in attitudes and practices is needed to avoid catastrophic climate change.

The warning from the UN came on the same day Energy Minister Pat Rabbitte announced the abandonment of a controversial renewable energy project that would have seen more than 1,000 wind turbines erected in the midlands to export wind energy to Britain.

While the minister’s office stressed the decision to call time on the project was due to foot-dragging by British government on the deal and said it would not affect plans to increase wind energy usage within Ireland, the end of the deal raised questions about the direction of renewable energy policy here.