Press Release: Environment   11 May 2006

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Green Party calls for Government to end free ride for polluters in carbon allocation

The Green Party has called on the Government to tackle Ireland's main polluters in order to meet our targets under the Kyoto Protocol.

In advance of today's allocation of carbon credits the Green Party said that it is now time to face up to the polluters who are allocated a large allowance to pollute free of charge. Under Kyotothe Irish Government allocated the main polluting companies and institutions a license to pollute up to an allocated level. Any emissions above that limit have to be purchased on the open market.

Green Party Environment spokesperson Ciarán Cuffe TD stated: "The carbon credits were allocated to existing bodies and this gives them a free license to pollute. There just isn't enough incentive out there to reduce emissions.

"The European system of allocating carbon credits was over-generous. This has meant that the price of carbon credits has fallen from around €20-€25 a tonne to around €10. The bulk of the carbon credits should have been auctioned rather than given away for free.

 

"Kyoto is only a stepping stone towards reducing climate change emissions. Further reductions will be necessary. Irelandis still third last out of twenty-three European countries in meeting our targets under Kyoto. However we're still building motorways and urban sprawl as if climate change doesn't exist, and as if the oil will last forever.

"What we need today is a clear change of policy that would favour clean industries that enter the market-place. We also need further incentives for companies to further reduce their emissions. If that doesn't happen consumers will have to pick up the bill for emissions caused by big business.

"We believe that incentives are needed to promote energy conservation measures such as insulation and to ensure that renewable energy such as wind and bio-mass are given greater support. Climate change is a reality and it is time that the Irish Government took the issue seriously," concluded Deputy Cuffe.