Report targets drivers in bid to cut emissions
A RAFT of tough measures aimed at hitting motorists in the pocket are proposed in a new report on cutting Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions.
A carbon tax on all fuels, congestion charges for motorists and levies on workplace parking are among the ideas floated in the report.
The 170-page document by Dublin think-tank the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA) warns that Ireland needs to "drastically reduce" its greenhouse gas emissions to avoid damaging the economy.
And it says a major rethink of the Government's National Climate Change Strategy is needed to avoid a potentially huge "distance to target" on emissions after 2012.
But the document was lashed by the Automobile Association of Ireland which said motorists were once again being unfairly blamed for CO2 emissions.
The report acknowledges that some of its proposals to cut emissions are radical and, in some cases, unpopular policy options.
But it said they would set the country on a long-term trajectory to break economic dependence on fossil fuels.
Employers and business group IBEC welcomed the report and said climate change must be tackled urgently.
More than 60 Irish experts contributed to the IIEA report, 'The Climate Change Challenge: Strategic Issues, Options and Implications for Ireland' which was unveiled by Environment Minister John Gormley yesterday.
IIEA working group chairman Dr Peter Brennan said the EU's proposals to reduce carbon emissions by as much as 30pc by 2020 would have profound economic implications.
"Not only businesses, but farmers, commuters and households will have to start adapting to a new way of life as Ireland will have no option but to reduce -- in the most fundamental manner -- its current over-dependency on fossil fuel," he warned.
The tough new measures proposed in the document include:
l The immediate introduction of carbon tax on all fuels purchased by consumers;
l Congestion charges and parking restrictions to remove cars from city centres;
l Workplace parking levies and discounts to those using public transport;
l The immediate abolition of VRT and motor tax on all electric vehicles and;
l All new buildings to be "carbon neutral" by 2020.
The document suggests three options, one of which would involve doing little to cut gas emissions, while a more proactive approach would set a target of 60pc cuts by 2050.
But it favours a third option of an 80pc cut in emissions by 2050, the introduction of financial incentives for a low carbon power-generating sector, improving public transport and removing private cars from city centres through congestion charges.
However, it warns that today's taxpayers may have to pay for measures that benefit those in the future and Irish business could be exposed to competitive pressures.
- Fergus Black
