Tolls and taxes are the only way to save environment

YOUR editorial (Irish Examiner, May 30) endorsed the idea that global warming can be solved by preaching to people to make sacrifices.

In my view blaming ordinary people is an irresponsible, self-righteous ploy by governments unable to face up to powerful lobby groups and public prejudice.

Most people are happy enough to partake in recycling schemes — it is little bother and costs them nothing, but why should they be expected to make martyrs of themselves by not using their cars when everyone else is doing so?

What alternative do they have? Non-existent public transport? Risking death by cycling or walking along main roads? Saying at home?

Some people would happily pay road tolls and carbon taxes to reduce traffic and save the ecosystem.

But many others are stubbornly determined to drive huge, unnecessary distances. Governments do not rely on preaching to make people pay taxes or abide by the law — they use compulsion and penalties.

Global warming, depletion of fossil fuels and the environmental/social cost of unrestrained traffic growth are the most serious problems facing the world now and the only way they can tackled is by laws, regulations and taxes.

That is what governments are for. After all, they have no problem introducing unnecessary legislation that restricts human rights.

It is futile to try to counteract carbon dioxide emissions by subsidising less environmentally harmful alternatives such as bio-diesel, a policy shamefully endorsed even by the Green Party.

The answer is raising money through road tolls and environmental taxes. This would allow governments to spend more on health, education, social services and public transport. Surely this is preferable to cheap motoring?

You emphasise domestic energy, saying “16% of total greenhouse gas emissions arise from the way the average person is using and producing (sic) energy in households right across Europe”.

Well, what about the other 84%? The figures you give for savings in domestic energy use by turning down central heating or putting televisions on standby are misleading — 10% of 16% is 1.6%. This is trivial when traffic is growing at 8% per year.

Rather than preaching, it would be better to tackle carbon dioxide emissions by raising fuel costs and giving financial help where it is needed.

Michael Job

Rossnagreana

Glengarriff

Co Cork