Ireland`s greenhouse gas emissions.

realitykeeper

In yesterday`s budget, there was very little (other than the 1% levy on diesel cars) that pertained to the issues around greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. The day before yesterday, the UN released a warning that every country will need to do far more to limit greenhouse gas emissions and of course Ireland already has a reputation as a laggard in these matters.

I have two questions:

1) What does Ireland need to do to substantially limit our greenhouse gas emissions as called for by the UN?

2) How can the Irish people be persuaded to get behind policies that they otherwise would not support, for the sake of the environment?

Cowardly and unprincipled politicians need to be helped in the answering of these questions and this is what I would suggest to them, in two steps:

1) Bombard the public through schools, workplaces, the media and other venues of the catastrophic consequences climate change will bring. This effort should not be for a season but ongoing and adaptable.

2) Wait for the people on the doorstep to demand action in response to step one, and then give the people what they want.

ednwireland

1 will not work as people won't believe it until the ground is washed from beneath their feet.

Very little the government has done directly affects people apart from carbon taxes which is basically a cash grab without actually providing viable alternatives with the money.
I goto European countries and see tram networks and trolley buses hooking up to overhead cables when they reach the grid again, massive spends on commuter infrastructure new estate or industrial units built someone's provided buses and trams so people can get to work.

Go outside dublin and try and get to work without a car between towns. First train into sligo gets in at 11am

The government has pretty much done nothing massive insulation,double glazing programs are needed to retrofit all properties electricity generating panels on all buildings.

Give people viable alternatives to cars that get them to work on time

Then you can start complaining people aren't doing anything

Yes its depressing but the government have done nothing except encourage car use which guess what isn't the correct answer.

So what if a train line from Derry to cork cost billions it will be cheaper than the fines in the end

realitykeeper

ednwireland wrote: »

1 will not work as people won't believe it until the ground is washed from beneath their feet.

That is rather defeatist don`t you think?

ednwireland wrote: »

Give people ...

But the national debt is so enormous, giving is out of the question. This must be done on the basis of take.

Even so, this can be people led provided the politicians covertly persuade the people to demand action.

ednwireland

Defeatist maybe but until alternatives are there how else do you get to work or school

Tax will change a small amount of behaviour but I doubt you Can put it up to a level where its punitive enough to make a difference without destroying the economy.
Don't understand what you mean by your last comment that seriously isn't going to happen.

You have to offer people serious alternatives and then tax.