Sir, – John FitzGerald acknowledges the urgent necessity to tackle global warming in his interesting column ("Solution to global warming will be found in new technologies" March 24th), but he offers an overly-gloomy prognosis for taking action.
He concludes: “the rise in global emissions is only likely to be halted when new sources of carbon-neutral energy are available”.
This is an outdated paradigm. Global CO2 emissions plateaued in 2014 despite strong economic growth. In China, the EU and the US, even in Africa, we are witnessing an unparalleled investment boom in economically attractive low-carbon technologies.
Contrary to Prof FitzGerald’s argument, maintaining prosperity and tackling climate change are eminently compatible. This is made clear in comprehensive global assessments such as the New Climate Economy report of 2014, the work of the leading thinkers in the field. According to this group and the International Energy Agency, among others, the majority of necessary solutions are already available; they just need to be deployed.
What is true globally is true also for Ireland. Wind energy is good for consumers. Investing in building energy efficiency offers multiple economic, social and health benefits. Admittedly other sectors such as agriculture proffer greater challenges.
For the most part, however, the barriers are not technical and economic but cultural and behavioural. False dichotomies should be avoided on this critical issue. – Yours, etc, JOSEPH CURTIN Senior research fellow, Institute of International and European Affairs, 8 North Great George’s St, Dublin 1.