To achieve many of the goals in the White Paper will take enormous political will and public support, writes Liam Reid, Environment Correspondent.
When it comes to the catwalk of Irish politics, green is most definitely this season's "in" colour. The Government has a reputation for keeping up with the latest trends and Ministers are rarely caught wearing last year's fashion, particularly in an election year.
In terms of political fashion shows, yesterday's launch of the White Paper on energy was one of the biggest to date from the Government. Its commitment to a 33 per cent target for renewable electricity generation was portrayed by Ministers as ambitious, farsighted and achievable.
Of course the Government likes to claim that the environmental shade of green has been ever present in its wardrobe. However, what should be noted is that the launch of the White Paper is the latest environment-related announcement in what has been no less than a barrage from Fianna Fáil, its Ministers and TDs.
It comes in a run-up to a general election where the Green Party is emerging as a serious potential coalition partner. In addition, environmental issues are now a much higher priority with the electorate, according to published polls and private research by the parties.
The impact of this is clear and marks a Government prioritisation of environmental issues that, despite the protestations, has simply not been there in recent years.
The last three weeks has seen the 33 per cent renewable target announced no fewer than four times.
It was first mentioned by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern three weeks ago at a Fianna Fáil conference in Galway and was trotted out again by Mr Ahern the following weekend during a visit to the Meath commuter belt.
The following week it was the main feature of the Minister for Communications and Natural Resources Noel Dempsey's bioenergy action plan.
The promises of the White Paper on green energy and its contribution to greenhouse gas reductions, should be seen in the context of the Government's poor record on this area. In autumn of 2000, the Government published an ambitious strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Three of more than 20 key measures included promises to introduce carbon taxes, change the VRT car tax system to be based on emissions and convert Moneypoint power station from coal to a more environmentally friendly alternative.
Of the three, only the VRT proposal remains and it has yet to be implemented, seven years after it was promised.
In the meantime emissions have risen to an extent that they are now 25.4 per cent above 1990 levels, whereas the Kyoto limit is 13 per cent. We now have one of the worst records in Europe in relation to greenhouse gas emissions.
As a result the Government has no choice but to purchase carbon credits at a cost of €270 million to the exchequer.
The proposals in the White paper on energy in relation to renewable resources are ambitious and desirable however. The 33 per cent target for electricity generation by 2020 set by Government is higher than the overall 20 per cent target for the European Union as an average.
It not only sets the 33 per cent target, but says that it can be achieved while lowering electricity prices through some fundamental reforms in the energy market. These will also provide security of supply alongside improved competition and choice for business and consumers.
The paper also promises to reduce average energy use in homes and businesses by 20 per cent through improved efficiencies and conservation measures.
To achieve these main goals will require no fewer than 205 separate actions, the document sets out.
To do all of this would indeed be some achievement, but therein lies the challenge and the problem. Even the most modest of the 205 actions poses a massive challenge for the Government, departments and State agencies.
Take, for example, the long-term proposal for road pricing and congestion charging, to be introduced once there is sufficient improvement in public transport. To say such a move might face opposition, especially from rural dwellers, would be an understatement.
Another action is the promise to co-fire peat stations with a combination of biomass and organic waste such as meat and bone meal.
The Department of Natural Resources estimates the use of bone meal could divert upwards of 300,000 tonnes of peat away from power plants, saving a quarter of a million tonnes in greenhouse gas emissions.
The challenge is that at present, burning more than 80 per cent of meat and bone meal is effectively banned due to its designation as a hazardous material.
Even if this can be changed, power plants will need to go through a lengthy planning and environmental process to use the material. This will have to be achieved against a background of opposition from local groups to incineration.
To achieve many of the goals in the White Paper will take enormous political will and co-ordination of Government departments and State agencies. This will have to be combined with a wholehearted support from interest groups and the general public.
Such a combination has rarely been seen in Irish society.
To have any hope of achieving the goals of the White Paper this Government, or any future one for that matter, will need to show a resolve, coherence and commitment on the environment and climate change that has not been evident in recent years.