Sir, - Your editorial of April 18th, "After Communism", raises the point of the true cost of energy. This editorial shows how both socialist and capitalist states fail to include ecology in their economic models. The statement; "altering the price of energy to the consumer to reflect its true cost . . ." referred to the increase in fuel prices with the arrival of the free market in post communist Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.
The "true cost" of energy in the free market reflects only its supply cost. In the case of fossil fuels, this is extraction, refining, distribution, profit etc. There is no carbon tax, so there is no reflection of the cost to our environment.
The politicians of today pay much lip service to protecting the environment; but the almost total rejection of energy taxes betrays their sense of priority. The piece meal "legislation to protect" will never counter the effects of supplying energy below its true cost.
It is the job of elected representatives to look into the bigger equation. European ministers would do much better to address the true cost of energy than promoting the growth economy, with its dependence on greater consumption. - Yours, etc.,
Green Party Spokesperson for Enterprise and Employment,
Presentation Road,
Galway.