Madam, - The Government's decision to abandon the introduction of a carbon tax may prove to be one of its most reckless and ill-conceived decisions to date. The repercussions are as yet uncertain, but one can rest assured that they won't simply evaporate into the atmosphere as readily as our greenhouse gas emissions.
The justification given by the outgoing Finance Minister - that the carbon tax "just wasn't worth it" - seems rather lame, following what has been an exhaustive consultative process that now appears to have been more for cosmetic purposes than anything else. Just wasn't worth what, exactly? The hassle? The energy? The cost? The votes?
One gets the distinct impression that this Government considers climate change as a very prickly thorn in its side and one it wishes could just be swept under the carpet. We pride ourselves on being a modern thriving economy, yet bury our heads in the sand when it comes to addressing the real problems that such wealth creates. This superficiality is the reason why climate change is only ever seen as a cost, a liability, a threat to business as usual. Instead is should be seen as an opportunity to find new ways to do business, to use more energy-efficient measures that never before existed because there never before was a need to find them.
The introduction of a carbon tax would above all else have provided society at large with a clear signal that for every action there is a reaction. Consumers don't instinctively associate an increase in energy use with an increase in carbon emissions - and those who do and have the altruistic sense to act are often left facing a "green" premium to switch away from using fossil fuels. Raising awareness and setting up an equitable system whereby consumer behaviour is based on the "real" costs of daily activities would have been the primary function and success of such a tax.
The Government has yet to signify its alternative to the introduction of a carbon tax in order to meet the country's Kyoto commitment. To say that time is running out is self-evident, with international discussions already set to take place in 2006 for future climate change commitments after 2012. As we have yet to implement key national measures to address the first Kyoto commitment period of 2008-12, one could be forgiven for holding one's breath. - Yours, etc.,
SIMON DEANE, Watsons, Killiney, Co Dublin.