Ahern: Ireland must show leadership on Climate Change

[shaneholden]

Opening Address by An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern TD Friday 23 March 2007

Synopsis:

Ireland, and in Europe, must show leadership on Climate Change.

The EU Heads of Government have thrown down the challenge to the rest of the developed world to join Europe in achieving a 30% reduction in carbon emissions by 2020. From my visit to the United States last week, I have seen the shift in attitude there and I am hopeful that we will see positive engagement from the US, from China and India and other major producers of carbon as we look forward to the future.

Even without the agreement of other developed nations, we in Europe committed ourselves to reductions of 20%.

This is a serious challenge for Ireland. But there is no going backwards.

I want to be very clear on this – we reject the idea that we must reduce economic growth to meet our responsibilities on carbon emissions. Growth is needed to support jobs and fund the public services which the public rightly expect such as improved pensions and health facilities.

Instead we will rise to the challenge. We will lead Ireland forward.

Already we have shown what can be done. Over the past 15 years our economy expanded by over 150% while our emissions increased by only 25%. In fact, the German Economic Institute reported that Ireland was the most energy efficient industrial nation in the world per unit of GDP. Of the original 15 EU Member States which signed up to the Kyoto Targets 7 are further away from their targets than Ireland but 7 are closer.

We have much more to do to reach our targets:

• That’s why Noel Dempsey published an Action Plan on Bio-Energy and a White Paper on Energy with plans to radically increase energy generated by renewable resources.

• That’s why Mary Coughlan is working to turn Irish agriculture into a dual producer of both food and fuel.

• That’s why Dick Roche will be publishing an ambitious Climate Change Strategy within the next couple weeks to put Ireland on the path of a low carbon economy.

• That’s why Martin Cullen is overseeing the greatest investment in public transport this country has ever seen.

• That’s why Brian Cowen has produced Budgets with more environmental initiatives than any Finance Minister in the history of the State.

Meeting our targets requires real effort by Government and the people. There is no single solution. It requires both major policy shifts and the smallest of changes by individuals.

Fianna Fáil will drive and encourage these changes. The policies of Government across all sectors are now being aligned to meet our Climate Change commitments:

• Our major industries are active in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme;

• our Greener Homes Scheme has been a runaway success;

• our planning laws have been changed to encourage renewable energy,

• we have granted generous tax breaks for hybrid and bio-fuel cars,

• We have increased building energy standards 3 times since we came into office in 1997,

• Our waste management policies are cutting down on waste being sent to landfill, a major producer of methane.

[johnfás]

The amount of Mercedes outside the Ard Fheis bring questions onto how environmentally friendly this government is...

Furthermore, on the TV3 news just there, it strangely appears that the Fianna Fáil delegates are watching the soccer on what appears to be about a 1000inch giant outdoor screen... I'm sure its solar powered

[Gombeen]

Ah the next transformation of Bertie the political chameleon; Bertie the Tree-Hugger

[factual]

More tax on petrol then?

[Pax]

• That’s why Dick Roche will be publishing an ambitious Climate Change Strategy within the next couple weeks to put Ireland on the path of a low carbon economy.

• That’s why Martin Cullen is overseeing the greatest investment in public transport this country has ever seen.

[....]

• Our major industries are active in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme;

• our Greener Homes Scheme has been a runaway success;

• our planning laws have been changed to encourage renewable energy,

• we have granted generous tax breaks for hybrid and bio-fuel cars,

• We have increased building energy standards 3 times since we came into office in 1997,

• Our waste management policies are cutting down on waste being sent to landfill, a major producer of methane.

Too, much, material.... overload overload BzZZtftsssx......

[doheochai]

Guess who's making a play for transfers and a new coalition partner?

[SPN]

Opening Address by An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern TD Friday 23 March 2007

.....


This is a serious challenge for Ireland. But there is no going backwards.

I want to be very clear on this – we reject the idea that we must reduce economic growth to meet our responsibilities on carbon emissions. Growth is needed to support jobs and fund the public services which the public rightly expect such as improved pensions and health facilities.

Instead we will rise to the challenge. We will lead Ireland forward.

Well there goes the old FFailure canard that Green policies would be bad for the economy! :wink:

Thanks Bert!

[KeithM]

Guess who's making a play for transfers and a new coalition partner?

Indeed, it's clear that FF now have a pecking order of who they'd like with them in the next government;

1 The PDs
2 The Greens
3 Labour

[Sidewinder]

Indeed, it's clear that FF now have a pecking order of who they'd like with them in the next government;

1 The PDs
2 The Greens
3 Labour

Keith, can you get anything right?

FF's last ard fheis, a few short weeks before the election, and they spend the whole weekend attempting to seduce the Greens while pretending the PDs don't even exist. They've already decided to ditch the PDs. They really couldn't make it any more obvious.

[Coles]

Opening Address by An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern TD Friday 23 March 2007

Synopsis:

Blah blah blah bullsh!t blah blah blah...

• Our waste management policies are cutting down on waste being sent to landfill, a major producer of methane.

What? What about the illegal landfill at Whitestown, Co. Wicklow? The largest illegal landfill in the State! FFingerprints all over it! And is the release of dioxins through incineration going to improve the environment, our food, our water, our lives and the lives of future generations? Bert and that dick, Roche are a pair of shameless muppets...