Green Party Carbon Offset plan

CJhaughey

I first heard about this yesterday.
For those that didn't hear about it, to offset the quantities of carbon burned by official govt Air travel, the green party are proposing to tax the taxpayer by putting the equivalent money into such things as african countries and the world wildlife fund.
I am aghast at this proposal, I thought that I would support the greens in most policy decisons but to be honest this kind of proposal is just off the wall.
I they really wanted to offset why don't they buy a few large areas and start planting them with native deciduous trees, so that our children and grandchildren can enjoy them?
Questions and answers last night had a small discussion about this and Trevor Sergeant was going on about using the train from Brussels to cologne in order to avoid airtravel.
I appreciate that he acts in an ethical manner but why is this kind of travel necessary at all? Surely if his colleague and minister for communication Eamonn Ryan got his act together with regard to broadband the option of videoconferencing would be available?
and giving the money to Africa? I can just see some tinpot dictator getting his hands on the cash and doing a bit of redecorating in the palace.
This country is falling apart in places and they want to give money away?
I am very angry and just needed to vent.
Thanks for listening.

luapenak

Not saying I disagree with your overall point but it is obvious that putting the money into offsetting in Africa would be a lot cheaper than buying land in Ireland.
I'm not sure about your whole videoconferencing idea either. I no it's supposed to about business but if I was in that situation I would find it very impersonal especially if ones to be discussing important topics.

silverharp

Carbon offsetting is a joke, the greens should focus on trying to make life better for people here, I bet you in 4 years time we will still have the same crappy transport system and where a cycle lane is a line painted on the road.

CJhaughey

Luapenak
When they talk about carbon offsetting they are not worried about value for money.
A case in point, the Taoiseachs visit to South Africa including all the attendant hangers-on would cost the taxpayer=Me around €20,000 to carbon offset.
that would very quickly add up to a substantial sum when you see how many civil servants and politicians are jetting around at any one time.
Video conferencing is fine when the equipment and connectivity are up to modern standards, perfectly adequate for many meetings.
My point is exactly that of silverharps, I don't mind if it is trees, proper bike lanes, etc etc, what I do mind is that they are proposing to give the money away to some other country/organisation that will not use it to make Ireland a better place.

Del2005

How much less would we have to offset if they got the plane from Baldonnel instead of Dublin airport. Waste off fuel and premature aging of the plane becuase they can't be arsed sitting in their chauffeur driven cars across the M50.