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Ireland needs to stop pleading it’s a ‘special case’ and start doing what is necessary to meet the Paris agreement

Screenshot from 2016-02-01 17:29:34

The Irish government need to stop pleading we are a special case in relation to climate change and start doing what is needed, experts told an Oireachtas Committee this week.

Members of the Stop Climate Chaos coalition this week spoke to the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline what the Paris deal means for Ireland.

Prof. John Sweeney of An Taisce, Jerry MacEvilly of Trocaire, Dr Cara Aisling Augustenborg of Friends of the Earth all gave evidence to the committee.

Dr Augustenborg spoke specifically about what needs to be done from an Irish perspective.

Her key points were:

  • The government need to stop pleading for a deal on our agricultural emissions and state clearly what we are doing and can do to meet our emissions commitments.
  • We are bottom of the pack in Europe for our 2020 emission targets and non-compliance will be met with fines so we need to act fast.
  • All our government and local authority plans need to be redrafted in light of our Paris commitments.
  • Changing the energy sector is the easiest win and retrofitting is the key. We need to get our average house rating from D1 to B1.
  • We need to develop community ownership of renewable projects to build local buy in.
  • A price for solar energy needs to be set up so households and businesses can get paid for the electricity they produce.
  • She also warned about the potential dangers of importing biomass and the devastation it can cause in other countries.
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Call for land tax to compel developers to build on vacant sites

imageIrish Times: SVT (Site Value Tax) is the most equitable, efficient and effective property tax option for the Government. Unlike a conventional property tax that taxes the ‘improved’ portion of the property, ie the buildings and thus penalises construction, SVT is non- distortionary, creates no economic drag and has minimal adverse effects. Read article

Just like the Green Party was saying years ago … (2009)

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Greens’ bus station plan is a sensible idea

imageFrom the Irish Times

The Green Party has struggled in recent years to remain politically relevant, but it deserves credit for one of the best public transport suggestions from any party in recent times.

A missive yesterday from its transport spokesman Tom Kivlehan contained an innovative idea to better utilise Dublin city’s public bus infrastructure, while also helping to solve part of the city’s traffic chaos. It went something like this . . . Continue reading “Greens’ bus station plan is a sensible idea”

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Green candidate Grace O’Sullivan believes she has realistic chance of European seat

imageGrace O’Sullivan on European trail as sister Lola aims to retain FG seat on Waterford council. Former Greenpeace activist turned would-be politician Grace O’Sullivan has admitted she was reluctant to join the electoral fray when asked to run for the Green Party but now believes she has a realistic chance of entering the European Parliament following this month’s elections. Read article