Editorials

The Irish Times view on cutting transport emissions: a need to sell the plan

Major reductions in car trips are required to cut emissions - the Government needs to put forward a convincing and fair strategy

Congestion on the M7 near Naas, in Co Kildare - the Government is to consider plans to cut car journeys as part of its climate strategy (Photo:PA)
Congestion on the M7 near Naas, in Co Kildare - the Government is to consider plans to cut car journeys as part of its climate strategy (Photo:PA)
Wed Mar 08 2023 - 20:49

The Government is to start considering a plan of action to reduce transport emissions, produced by Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan. It is a process which, we are told, will continue until the end of this year, confronting the Cabinet with some politically contentious decisions on issues such as congestion charges for cars, higher parking costs and other measures to change the behaviour of motorists.

Reducing emissions means changing people’s behaviour – requiring the use of both carrot and stick. Above all, international experience suggests that public acceptance is vital if new charges are to be accepted as a legitimate tool. This will be hard-won; voters are in favour of climate action in principle, but in practice often object to measures directly affecting them.

Transport is one of the key sources of emissions and so action is vital if Ireland is to come anywhere close to its climate targets. Reducing the number of polluting car journeys is an essential goal, but not a straightforward one. The move to electric vehicles is part of this. But so is a reduction in the overall number of trips, particularly in urban areas, reducing congestion and allowing more space for cyclists and walkers.

There is also a rural/urban divide. It is reasonable to penalise people for driving in congested urban areas, where there are often public transport options. But in rural Ireland, there can often be no other option, and due to longer distances driven, households outside urban areas may pay more as carbon taxes increase on polluting fuels. A lot of thought needs to go into presenting a plan which is seen to be as fair as possible.

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However, it also needs to be ambitious. Ireland is well behind on its climate targets and has a lot of ground to catch up. Major changes are needed – and quickly – to put the country on track for its 2030 targets. Some of these will be uncomfortable and politically unpopular – it is telling that a memo on the issue due to go to Cabinet this week was delayed to give more time for consideration.

Ryan is correct that measures to charge motorists more need to be preceded by improvements to the availability and efficiency of public transport. As fixed rail projects take years to deliver, there needs to be an immediate focus on further improving bus services, as well as pushing forward with improvements for cyclists and walkers, which in some areas are slow to appear.

But politicians will have to bite the bullet, too, implementing – sooner rather than later – policies which will be unpopular with motorists. Some policies will aim to reduce congestion and emissions. Others will be needed to replace lost revenue as the car fleet goes “green” in the years ahead. But the scale of the required transformation is enormous and there is a huge job for politicians in developing a coherent plan – and winning public support for it.