Sir, – John Leahy (Letters, September 11th) rightly laments our recent performance in emissions reductions but then suggests that we should be lobbying the EU for special treatment due to our relatively low contributions to total global emissions. Using this metric is ultimately divisive, when global collaboration and solidarity are needed more than ever.
If Ireland is allowed a derogation based on its total emissions then why wouldn’t any country or region of a similar size do so, and where does it end?
Per capita emissions are the only fair metric in this regard, and Ireland is currently ranked seventh of 27th in that measure. Of course emissions are not the only story and there is an increasing need to highlight to importance of preserving ecosystems as significant bulwarks against the worst impacts of severe climate events. Ireland also lags in this measure.
We are part of the EU, and have benefited hugely from this in the last 40 years. In that time our per capita GDP has grown hugely, and in doing so has increased our per capita impact on the environment. We seem to live with a delusion that we can sit back and allow others to carry the weight of responsibility while we carry on.
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The extreme weather events this year are just the beginning, the lag between emissions and effect is years, and these will only get worse unless there is a global, unified effort to stop the use of fossil fuels quickly. Business as usual is not an option if we want stable, functioning, and sustainable societies in the future.
People will say that it is naive to think that this can happen in the cynical world we live in, but it is equally naive to think that burying our heads in the sand will provide some immunity from the storm that will come if we continue to prevaricate. – Yours, etc,
BARRY WALSH,
Blackrock,
Cork.