Call for green tax on gas guzzling cars and extra bathrooms

People who drive gas-guzzling cars or put numerous bathrooms in their homes should be charged for the environmental impact, a Government advisor insisted today.

Professor Frank Convery, chairman of Comhar, said everybody had an ecological responsibility to bear and should be forced to pay the price if they failed in their duty.

Comhar is the country’s Sustainable Development Council which is appointed by the Environment Minister and charged with informing government policy.

“Meeting the challenge of climate change while building a sustainable economy is something that must be shared among everyone in society,” said Prof Convery.

“Individuals, families, businesses and government all need to make changes to create a sustainable future.

“If they don’t want to make these changes, they must pay the cost,” he told a seminar in Temple Bar’s Cultivate Centre in Dublin.

The talks organised by Comhar and the UK Commission for Sustainable Development in Northern Ireland are part of the 12th Annual Sustainable Living Festival.

Professor Convery told delegates the country’s first National Sustainable Development Strategy (NSDS) published in 1997 was a failure.

“Our economy grew at an unprecedented level, but failed to deliver sustainable models for future growth,” he said.

“Looking forward to the next decade, the new sustainable strategy must contain real targets that can have a positive impact on our climate and the way in which we live, while maintaining economic development.

“The next government must show real leadership in promoting sustainable living throughout society,” he said.

The Government advisor advocates a “green public procurement” system which would force contractors to use environmentally sound practices for all State-funded developments.

He is also pushing for an overhauled public transport system that will ease traffic congestion and cut down on people’s travel times.

“Adopting a sustainable approach to how we live and run our economy should be an enticing and rewarding challenge for everyone,” he said.

“One of our main challenges is educating everyone about the benefits of sustainable living.

In its submission to the government for the next NSDS, Comhar wants all government decisions “carbon-proofed” to ensure minimum greenhouse-gas emissions.