Madam, - Politicians and environmentalists have criticised the Government's U-turn on the introduction of a carbon tax. It also should be challenged on ethical and religious grounds.
Sir David King, the UK government's chief scientist, is on record recently as saying that climate change is the biggest problem that civilization has had to face in 5,000 years. The facts are looking grimmer as each year passes. In the past month three hurricanes have devastated the lives of millions of people in the Caribbean and the US. This summer scientists found that Greenland's ice cover was melting at the rate of 10 metres a year, not one metre as previously thought. If the entire Greenland sheet melted, ocean levels could rise by seven metres, inundating many poor countries such as Bangladesh.
Global warming is also causing glaciers to melt in the Andes and the Himalayas. The 10 million inhabitants of Lima depend on glacial run-offs for their water. The Ganges, Bramaputra, Mekong and Yangtze rivers all depend on the Himalayan glaciers. One third of humanity depends on these rivers for the water essential to produce food.
The impact on other species on the planet could be equally bleak. An international team led by Dr Chris Thomas of Leeds University estimates that global warming will cause the extinction of at least one quarter of the species of the planet.
The World Council of Churches (WCC) has given exceptional leadership in trying to focus the attention of Christians on the appalling effect of global warming on people and other creatures. As far back as 1993 it called for a variety of measures including the introduction of a carbon tax. This would not halt global warming, but it would be clear signal that a country was taking significant steps to honour its Kyoto commitments on greenhouse gas emissions.
The heart of every religious tradition is concern and care for others. Our profligate misuse of fossil fuel guarantees that future generations will be forced to live in a much less hospitable planet. The most recent document from the WCC - "Solidarity with Victims of Climate Change" - calls on all churches to speak out against this suicidal course of action. A unified call from the churches for the introduction of the promised carbon tax in the December budget would be a courageous first step. - Yours, etc.,
Father SEÁN McDONAGH, St Columban's, Navan, Co Meath.
Madam, - The Government's decision not to introduce a carbon tax is one of the few sensible things it has done over the past seven years. The whole concept of such a tax is so overwhelmingly stupid as to be beyond belief. Does anyone seriously believe that every last drop of present and future world oil reserves will not be burned by this and future generations?
Every government in the world, our own included, is doing its best to attract exploration by oil companies in its territory by means of tax concessions, reduced royalties etc. (remember Ray Burke, anyone?) Therefore, the imposition of heavy taxes on oil products will not act in any way to reduce the use of such products, but will only increase costs on already overburdened consumers, and add hugely to costs for industry. There will, of course, be passed on to consumers as well, driving up inflation and causing world recession.
Until governments commit large amounts of money worldwide to research new and cheaper environmentally friendly energy sources, many of which are already known and available, oil will continue to be the cheap energy source of choice. All this environmental posturing, regardless of its worthiness, is just that and the wailing of the opposition is just to much bunkum.
If the international community is serious about the Kyoto commitments on carbon emissions, it must first take its head out of the (mainly oil-bearing) sand. - Yours, etc.,
DON MULLINS, Ballycarney, Green Road, Carlow.
Madam, - So the Government, which is still reeling from the richly deserved kicking it got in the June elections, has decided not to impose carbon taxes in the desperate hope that this will garner a few additional votes and enable it to cling to power.
It appears to assume that, like politicians, the voters are a bunch of greedy cretins who will be unconcerned with the damage to the environment and the legacy that will be passed on to future generations.
For treating the voters with such disrespect and for their callous disregard for the welfare of the plant it would seem that another really good thrashing is in order. I for one, hope that they will get this at the earliest possible date. - Yours, etc.,
CARMEL COURTNEY, Sandyford Road, Dublin 16.