A chara, – Rob Sadlier (Letters, April 15th) assures us that "there is near universal agreement among analysts that carbon taxes are essential if we are to successfully combat climate change". I'm not so sure as I haven't seen any such "universal agreement".
The theory behind carbon tax is that if the price of carbon is made more expensive people will use less. But this is only true if alternative methods are available that use less carbon. For example, a rural worker, who needs a car to travel, perhaps 20 miles to work, will still need to use his car when the carbon tax goes up. The only difference is that it will become more expensive. In reality, combatting the damage of climate change cannot be left to market forces, or to diktats from middle-class Dubliners. What we need is a central plan decided on by the State – and enforced by the State – which is based on how to transition in a way which shares the burden of transition equally. – Is mise,
EOIN Ó MURCHÚ,
Baile Átha Cliath 22.