Taking a look at some green credentials

A FEW years ago, I interviewed Trevor Sargent and put it to him that the Green Party had gradually come in from the margins to become more populist and more politically palatable to potential partners. No way, he responded.

“It’s the other parties that have moved out to meet us, as they recognise the merit of our arguments.”

The proof of that particular tofu and leek pudding is the Lazarus-like conversion of the other political parties to environmental policies.

In Britain, Tory leader David Cameron is cycling to work one or two days a week and taking photo-op trips to Norway to highlight the danger facing the polar ice caps. Here in Ireland, the approach has been less stuntish but no less dramatic.

This year we saw all the mainstream parties vie with each other to see which could come up with the highest percentage of renewable and alternative energy. We also saw Bertie Ahern agreeing with the Stern Report’s stark findings, and admitting Government wasn’t doing enough to curb carbon emissions.

In this quick survey of the main environmental policies of the major parties, we give priority to the party for which it is its raison d’être.

* Green Party

This party has the highest target for renewable and alternative energies — 50% of all energy sources by 2020. The Greens’ energy spokesperson Eamon Ryan accepts it is an ambitious target but says urgency demands we “must reach for the stars”.

“If you look at the US entering World War II, they shut down General Motors in a week and converted it (for the war effort). Their Food for Victory programme helped America become self-sufficient. In Sweden, the want to get rid of all oil by 2020. They are the targets we need to set.”

While Sweden has hydroelectricity, the Greens argue that Ireland should concentrate on the 23 forms of renewable energy, among them wind, tidal energy, offshore wind and biomass.

In relation to Kyoto, the party wants a reduction of 40% on carbon emissions by 2050 — that’s on 1990 levels, which means a net decrease of over 60% on today’s emission levels.

With recycling, the party wants a zero-waste strategy, in which everything is recycled. It is also the only party that has specifically called for a carbon tax, based on a ‘polluter pays’ principle. Party finance spokesperson Dan Boyle has spoken about the notion of an individual carbon allowance for every citizen, which he says may be the most equitable way.

* Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil’s record is pragmatism personified. The party has gradually awakened to the reality of dwindling fossil-fuel resources and this has been reflected in a huge acceleration of its target for renewable and alternative sources of energy.

Earlier this year it upped it to 13%. Then, in September, Bertie Ahern and Communications Minister Noel Dempsey set a target of 30% by 2020. In last week’s Estimates, €10 million was allotted for research into new energy resources.

On waste, however, the Government’s record is more mixed. The plastic bag initiative, a nationwide recycling system and domestic refuse charges have led to a decrease in volumes going to landfill. But the reality is, most of the collected recyclables are being shipped abroad.

Controversially, the Government has also opted for large-scale incineration projects.

The Programme for Government promised carbon taxes but that is now a non-runner. Emissions trading schemes were introduced last year and have led to charges from the opposition that Fianna Fáil wants to buy itself out of the Kyoto targets.

There has also been tardiness in complying with EU environmental directives, criticism of the Government’s emphasis on roads rather than public transport and its failure to introduce a rigorous energy efficiency standard for housing.

The Government has also a mixed record on water quality and pollution in Irish waterways.

* Fine Gael

Calls for 33% of our energy requirements to come from alternative forms by 2025. Has put a lot of emphasis on biofuels.

Individual TDs have opposed incinerators in their areas but the party has never formally ruled out this option. It has strong policy lines on recycling but they are not fully formulated.

* PDs

As the junior Government partner, its policies differ little from Fianna Fáil. However, it has called for 30% renewables by 2015.

* Labour

Like the other parties, Labour has ambitious targets for renewable and alternative energy forms. Has strong communitarian policies on water. It says the Government intends to privatise water supply and wants free provision of water for every citizen.

Is highly critical of Government’s stance on the nitrates directive, which it says has contributed to pollution of ground water in Ireland.

The party is also opposed to incinerators but has not ruled them out completely — the party says it may be swayed by new technologies.

Labour supports the proposition that Ireland should reduce its carbon emissions by 60% by 2050. Environment spokesperson Eamon Gilmore says: “Some hard decisions have to be made about energy conservation. We need to emphasise public transport, restrict emissions caused by 4x4s and the like, and do better in terms of energy efficiency.”

* Sinn Féin

The party has campaigned against incineration and also advocates a policy of zero-waste/100% recycling.

* Socialist Party

Two headlines from its website, ‘Big business destroys the environment’ and ‘Can socialism save the planet?’, sum up the party’s message.

* Donal Hickey is away.