Sir, – John Leahy in his plea for Ireland to limit its ambitions to reduce its emissions tries to justify this abdication of responsibility by telling us that our per capita emissions level is the result of a quirk whereby we have a higher ratio of cattle per person than other countries (Letters, November 23rd).
He is correct on that ratio; however, we chose that by ramping up the output of dairy in the aftermath of removal of EU quotas.
The cattle didn’t just wander onto the island of their own volition.
That ramp-up in dairy has resulted in significant changes in land use, such as draining of wetlands and removal of hedgerows, that are contributing factors to the rapid flow of floodwaters downstream to locations such as Midleton and Rosslare.
:quality(70):focal(2765x1498:2775x1508)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/K2PKXJTXUJGX5BWMFB2ZCPT5II.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/BX2EY2FY5BIDVLTCSK2G7QR5BA.jpg)
:quality(70):focal(4275x3305:4285x3315)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/JOYSIUDEUNFDLK3IPPODZL6DDA.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/EMTBS7KLXFA3DKRRMSLM6FYCGE.jpg)
This is not to blame farmers. On the contrary, they were encouraged and incentivised by politicians, and the large corporate agri sector, to borrow and invest to drive the projected exports, without any thought placed as to the environmental consequences.
Unfortunately we live in times where radical change is needed across all sectors of society to slow the advance of climate change, and mitigate the impact of extreme weather.
This crisis has two dimensions, the emissions that are causing the increased volatility of the weather systems, and the destruction of natural systems that would ordinarily mitigate impacts of extreme weather events; they are all interlinked and don’t recognise borders.
Ireland cannot ask for a pass based on our population size, cattle numbers or any other excuse.
We have chosen, like many of the other large emitting nations, to enjoy the fruits of a consumption-based economic system, and are contributors to a crisis which is currently having a significant impact on countries with far less emissions per capita.
Absolutely we need to plan for mitigation, but also be leaders in pushing for meaningful change.
This includes getting our politicians to wake up the reality that business as usual is not an option, it is a betrayal of our children and grandchildren. – Yours, etc,
BARRY WALSH,
Blackrock,
Cork.
Sir, – Daily, in the press, and online, we are confronted with the wearying repetition of reports on how Ireland continues to miss the targets and timeline necessary to meet our climate change obligations. Naomi O’Leary’s article indicated the world was 2 per cent warmer than the average pre-industrial temperatures for the first time on November 17th (“Earth tips 2 percent warmer in worrying milestone”, World, November 20th). Editorials and letters in The Irish Times frequently explore and explain the issues and challenges.
Like other countries, the pace of transition and adaptation to meet targets in Ireland is wholly inadequate, as we are stuck in a system that is seemingly unable to change.
The fundamental issue is that politics, and so political parties, treat the environment as a political issue. So growth, the economy, farming and all the interests that drive political posturing continue to create barriers to progress.
If all the main parties in Ireland were to agree that the policies needed to meet our targets are non-negotiable, and as such a collective and joint approach will be taken, without political influence or interference, we could set a world example.
Until the environment is taken out of politics, it will be impossible to really enact the system changes needed to save this planet for future generations. Unfortunately I’m not optimistic about the chances of this happening. – Yours, etc,
KATE BURNS,
Rathlin Island,
Co Antrim.