Kyoto Protocol - Ireland must go the extra green mile

THE prospect of Irish taxpayers being hit by penalties costing millions of euro should galvanise the Government to honour its commitments under the Kyoto Protocol to reduce carbon emissions.

Despite signing the treaty, which comes into effect today, the Coalition has paid lip service to reducing this country’s greenhouse gases. Environment Minister Dick Roche should heed the call by Green Party leader Trevor Sargent for a carbon tax and more investment in renewable energies and less dependency on the car.

Seven years after pledging to limit greenhouse emissions, Ireland has met barely a quarter of its target. Foot-dragging by Ireland and other states will hardly convince America to sign the treaty.