Sir, – Your editorial of June 4th makes a much needed call for an open and honest national conversation on the radical changes needed here and globally if we are to have any chance of slowing the rapidly deteriorating climate and biodiversity situation.
For too long the topic has been used as an opportunity for political point-scoring and parochialism. In the scientific community there is certainty on the existential threat but increasing frustration on the inability of politicians to act.
Could it be that politicians understand the reality that our growth dependent, unsustainable economic model is responsible for the situation we’re in? Or that they realise that significant changes are required to the lives of their electorate and are anxiously eyeing the next election?
Regardless, the collective honesty required across the political spectrum is to communicate to society the seriousness of the situation and the changes needed. Until they do we will have to live with the delusions of technological capitalism. Don’t look up indeed.
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– Yours, etc,
BARRY WALSH,
Blackrock,
Cork.