Going green is the best way to go for our economy

IT was surprising that a packed Green Economy Conference held in Dublin last week could have treated so lightly the German government’s significant decision to shut down all the country’s nuclear power plants by 2022. This policy change was prompted, no doubt, by the post-earthquake disaster at the Japanese Fukushima plant last March.

This latest news should have been high-lighted at the Green Economy Business & Leadership Briefing in the capital as it can open up major new possibilities for Ireland. With the demise of nuclear power, our greatest alternate energy contender, it could be a unique opportunity for this country to develop a multi-party strategy with a vision. Yes, an initiative to craft that agenda in partnership with business, educational institutions and civil society, by fully exploiting the sustainable renewable energy resources we have readily available here. The most notable being wind, marine, energy crops, biomass and solar —- some already on track. And, in the process, doing something practical that will create jobs and boost our economy.

James Gleeson