Can we save the only bonus of recession?

UP until recently politicians were warning that we needed to reduce our individual carbon footprints to achieve our CO2 emission targets.

However, the recession has achieved this reduction very quickly.

We have dramatically reduced carbon emissions associated, for example, with property development, air travel, retail consumption, shipping and vehicle manufacture.

Having achieved this improvement as a side-effect of austerity, the question now needs to be asked whether our politicians are capable of taking advantage of the unexpected emissions reduction windfall?

There is little indication they have any coordinated policies other than to pray for a revival in consumption.

In particular, can the Green party leadership tell the public what plans they have to lock in the unexpected environmental bonus of recession?

Or will we see the gains achieved through so much pain frittered away over the next few years?

Donal Fellows

Cois na hAbhainn

Bailick Road

Midleton

Co Cork