4 May 2007
IPCC reaction: How we tackle climate change will be the defining issue of the next Govt
? The Green Party is alone in presenting a manifesto which takes the issue seriously
Green Party Energy spokesperson Eamon Ryan TD responded to the third report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change today by saying: “This latest report again presents the stark reality about climate change. We have to act and act now. Failure to do so will cost us dearly. The scale of changes we need to make are unprecedented but change is possible. Delay is not an option so climate change will be the defining issue for the next Government.
“The report should be essential reading for anyone one who is uncertain how to cast their vote in this election. The reader would soon realise how we need a government willing to make a radical investment in public transport, energy efficiency and new renewable energy technologies.
“A rational analysis of the manifestos being presented by the political parties shows that the Green Party alone is willing to take the issue seriously. You cannot read this report and still believe that current transport plans are right. You cannot deny the logic of putting a price on carbon when the leading economists in the world are describing what they call the greatest market failure of all time. No businessman could miss the strategic sense in going Green when they read about where our world economy is going to have to go.
“No other political party is taking the issue seriously, they may be praising biofuels at every photo-opportunity, they may be putting polar bears on every election leaflet, but in reality they are unwilling to take the decisions which today’s report shows are essential.
“The report calls for politicians to consider every carbon reduction option. We in the Green Party have been arguing for just such a scientific approach. For the last two years we have been calling for a cross party debate on the issue of nuclear power in Ireland. We have done so in the belief that a rational energy analysis will show that it makes no sense for our country. We hope such a debate would lead to a new collective conviction about the need to invest in energy efficiency and renewable alternatives. In government we will start such a debate and go on to make the changes in transport, planning and building which are needed to tackle climate change.
“The time for such a change is now. The evidence has never been more clear. The first action an individual can take it to vote Green number one in this election. Doing so will insure there are people in Government with an idea about how to steer our country in the right direction,” concluded Deputy Ryan.
[ENDS]
