New government and climate change

The naysayers use Ireland's economic boom to argue that we cannot meet our Kyoto targets.  In fact, the argument can be turned on its head.

In The Moral Consequences of Economic Growth Benjamin Friedman demonstrates that progressive measures are always far easier to make when a country is prosperous.  In a time of hardship people close ranks, fear change, blame others for their predicament, and often drift to the extremes. When times are good people are more willing to give up a little, to surrender entrenched positions, to embrace change without fear.  We are fortunate in Ireland that our prosperity arrives at a time when a surge of progress is urgently required in how we generate and use energy.  Our economic growth provides a cushion for our transition to a lower carbon footprint.  We can afford measures to sooth the pain for industries or individuals who have to change how they work or think. 

Most important of all, we should not miss this opportunity to use our economic growth to change how we think about growth itself.  Ireland — and the world — needs to start measuring economic progress in a way that builds in the future state of the environment.  We are among the few nations which are already rich and still getting richer. If we are brave enough to take the lead, the reward will be great for future generations.  I hope that instead of token gestures our new government will have the courage to give us this leadership.