The hand of the Green Party has been strengthened by a report showing that our climate is warming at double the world average, with flooding and drought conditions amongst the inevitable consequences.
Minister for the Environment and Green Party leader John Gormley has called for urgent action in implementing a Government commitment to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 3 per cent annually over the next five years. But, without a carbon tax, that target is unlikely to be met.
The latest report from the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) will be considered by a Cabinet sub-committee on climate change chaired by the Taoiseach next month and it will require a fundamental shift in Fianna Fáil thinking if serious progress is to be made. Mr Gormley may describe climate-change sceptics as "flat earthers". But, recognising that a problem exists is just the first step; taking difficult and unpopular decisions in response to it, is the hard part.
Three years ago, as a result of political pressure, a Fianna Fáil-led government lost its nerve and abandoned plans to introduce a carbon tax for householders, transport and small industries, from January 2005. Instead, it opted to buy international carbon credits and to spread the cost amongst all taxpayers. At the same time, it announced plans to develop renewable energy resources and to encourage conservation and energy-efficient building. As might be expected, in the absence of a "polluter pays" approach to reducing greenhouse gas output, the situation worsened. Earlier this year, the EPA found that transport emissions had grown at four times the expected level, while emissions from electricity generation were also rising. Our Kyoto Protocol commitments were exceeded by 12 per cent.
Apart from the financial costs involved in this profligacy - the Government set aside € 250 million to buy carbon credits - there is the global picture to be considered. If joined-up, international action is not taken, flooding, intense storms and desertification will cause severe loss of life, economic disruption and the massive movement of populations. There will be no escaping some of the consequences.
We need to plan for such eventualities. Cutting carbon emissions by 3 per cent a year. Better coastal defences are required. Building on flood plains should be banned. Desalinisation plants fuelled by wave, sea or wind-power could provide fresh water for a drier East coast. Tough energy-conservation legislation should be introduced. It will not be easy but, at this stage, our children will otherwise inhabit a radically changed world.