Greenhouse gases - Government stance mocks Kyoto accord

IRELAND’S relentless rise in greenhouse gas emissions is a graphic illustration of the Government’s failure to deliver on Kyoto agreement commitments.

Though promising to reduce pollution levels, the Coalition is to spend almost €300 million of taxpayers’ money to buy its way out of an environmental crisis exposed in a UN report on the threat of global warming.

This country’s increase in air pollution levels derives mainly from electricity generation and the dramatic surge in the number of vehicles on our roads. Symptomatic of our voracious appetite for dwindling carbon products, gas-guzzling SUVs are largely driven by suburban mothers ferrying children to and from school.

A report due from the Environmental Protection Agency is expected to confirm carbon levels are rising steadily. Matching the boom in vehicle sales, carbon emissions have virtually doubled.

Estimates last year showed Ireland’s level of greenhouse gases was 23% more than allowed under Kyoto, while sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions exceeded the Gothenburg Protocol limit by 40%. Per head of population, Ireland ranks among the biggest producers of greenhouse gases in the world. This makes a mockery of the Kyoto accord.

To reduce emission levels in a meaningful way, the Government must get its act together. Greater emphasis must, for instance, be placed on electricity generation from cleaner energy sources. Public transport has to be strengthened significantly. And houses should be energy proofed to the highest possible standard.

Against this backdrop, the proposal to obviate Ireland’s commitments under the Kyoto deal, by buying pollution ‘credits’ from other states, is a cynical cop-out.