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ON MARCH 15 thousands of school children took to the streets in a magnificent expression of environmental solidarity.
Inspired by the example of Swedish school girl, Greta Thunberg, they organised demonstrations around the country to protest against the government’s inaction on climate change.
Leo Varadkar claimed to support the protests, but he was busy meeting the world’s biggest climate denier as they were taking place.
Donald Trump’s administration has pulled the United States out of the Paris Climate Agreement and consistently proclaims the virtues of coal.
Fine Gael are better at covering their tracks than Trump but they are almost as reckless in terms of the environment.
They have cut subventions to public transport, allowed the dairy herd to increase by 400,000 and issued new licences for oil and gas exploration.
This has made Ireland one of the worst emitters in Europe, as judged by the Climate Change Performance Index.
Now the government want to move the cost of climate change onto ordinary people – using cover from the Citizens Assembly.
Last year, the Citizens Assembly met with the aim of making Ireland a leader in tackling climate change. Their report contained 13 proposals, including more extensive cycling lanes, increasing forestry cover and expanding organic farming.
The Assembly also recommended increasing taxes on carbon, although this proposal won the least support from members who wanted the poorest 400,000 families exempted from the tax and all monies ring-fenced for climate initiatives.
On foot of this report, the government set up a Dail Committee on Climate Action which is due to report in the coming weeks.
All the indications are that a carbon tax will be their central recommendation, in what will be a regressive step in the fight against climate change.
The Case Against Carbon Taxes
The primary case against carbon taxes is that they don’t deliver anything like the reductions in Co2 emissions that we need.
Recent research by the International Panel on Climate Change estimated that to avoid the dangerous tipping point of anything beyond a 1.5% increase in global temperatures, we need to reduce Co2 emissions by 45% in the next decade and to zero by 2050.
This is an enormous task that requires a lead by the world’s governments in setting legally enforceable limits on corporations responsible for most of the emissions.
It also needs the government to tax corporate profits to fund a major investment in renewable technology.
In contrast, carbon taxes are socially regressive measures that target the consumption of individuals.
If people continue to burn fossil fuels as prices increase, emissions won’t fall even as governments take more money from people.
To make matters worse, petroleum products are defined as inelastic by economists, meaning that individuals tend to stick with them regardless of their prices.
This is because they are essential for everyday living and hard to replace with alternatives.
Hard pressed families are no less worried about climate change than anyone else, but it is very expensive to buy an electric car or to retrofit a house meaning that for many peoples these ‘options’ are really not options at all.
Motorists currently pay 90 cent tax on a €1.50 litre of petrol. So fossil fuels are already very highly taxed but so far that hasn’t encouraged many people to switch their cars.
That is because most people simply can’t afford an expensive, new electric vehicle.
The government are so certain of the revenue from petrol, that they lump it in with cigarettes and alcohol as ‘old reliables’ come budget time.
The major oil and gas companies are equally sure that these taxes don’t work.
A leaked report from Exxon Mobile estimated that an effective carbon tax would have to increase the cost of petrol by 300%, equivalent to €4.60 a litre.
The ESRI has calculated that an effective tax would add €1,500 to every person in the country or up to €2,350 if agricultural emissions are not tackled.
It is for this reason that companies like Exxon publicly support carbon taxes, while back in 2014 they privately reassured their shareholders that “world climate policies are highly unlikely to stop it from producing and selling fossil fuels in the near future”.
International evidence
The academic evidence also suggests that carbon taxes are not hugely effective.
Norway is often held up as a pioneer in carbon taxes, but a study by Bruvoll and Larsen showed that in the decade after they were introduced, carbon taxes were responsible for a 1.5% reduction for onshore emissions and 2.3% overall – nowhere near enough.
British Columbia is another example put forward by carbon tax enthusiasts, but according to Food and Water Watch, overall reductions were between 1-2% with most of this down to the impact of the recession.
Other studies have been more positive, but even then the reductions are estimated to be in the range of between 5% – 9%. That is nowhere near enough.
Besides their relative ineffectiveness, the other key factor in the adoption of carbon taxes is the fact that they shift responsibility away from the major corporate polluters and onto consumers.
The problem with this is that just 100 global corporations are responsible for 71% of all emissions through the products they place onto the market.
Consumers can only choose what these corporations produce – and if big business continues to find it profitable to use oil and plastics then consumers will be stuck buying them.
Here at home, according to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland households’ account for 15% of all emissions while agriculture is responsible for 32%.
The SEAI found that using renewable energy for heat, electricity and transport reduced emissions by 4.2 million tonnes of CO2. That is the equivalent to the CO2 emissions of 1.4 million cars.
But it is also equivalent to just one-fifth of agricultural emissions of greenhouse gases.
Despite this, the government are committed to increasing the dairy herd by 22% over the next decade and have resisted calls for major investment in public transport.
Fine Gael has also blocked a People Before Profit bill, to leave remaining fossil fuels in the ground.
At the same time as they issued licences for exploration in places like the Porcupine Basin off the west coast.
This shows the hypocrisy behind the government’s imposition of carbon taxes.
They have no interest in taking on their friends in the corporate sector but want to use the carbon tax as a way to cover their tracks.
Recent riots in France shows that carbon taxes risk alienating working people at a time when we need them on board.
To really tackle climate change, while protecting the poorest and most vulnerable in society, we need:
Brian O’ Boyle is an economist with People Before Profit.
He holds a PhD in economics from the National University of Ireland, Galway and is currently working on a book about how Ireland is a tax haven.
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I get the feeling the reason there is such a high surge in tests is because the government have waived the fee to the GP so every Tom Dick and Harry are calling unnecessary to see if the have it. People need to wake up and leave the test for the people who really have the symptoms and need to be tested. Just because it’s free dosent mean you take it.
@Olivia Smith:
But aren’t people even more contagious before symptoms? While I appreciate the sheer volume of the tests required, if anybody who wanted a test could have one, maybe we could have even less transmission?
@Olivia Smith: every “tom dick and harry” might be ringing the doctor because it’s free, which i highly doubt, but it is the doctors call whether to refer people for testing or not, based on symptoms reported! So have a bit of cop on and a little less bitchy.
@Olivia Smith: I don’t think you can just rock up to the doc unless you meet the profile for testing. This means that the backlog is made up of people who are symptomatic which is worrying in itself. We definitely need to speed up the turnaround of testing in order to fight this. Best advice is to stay at home if possible and avoid other people.
@Olivia Smith: 80% of cases are mild, they need to be identified, quarantined, and contacts traced and isolated. Best to have a negative test than people go undiagnosed.
https://i.imgur.com/edjdYnJ.jpg
The more undiagnosed cases walking around the worse the epidemic.
Diagnosing only severe cases, at hospital, was the approach the UK proposed but it was abandoned after scientists at Imperial College London pointed out it would cause ~250,000 deaths.
@John O’Brien: You don’t rock up anywhere you call. And that’s the issue. Free call as sure I’ll do it just in case
@David Jordan: I have a family member waiting for a test. Was symptomatic since last Friday. Didn’t want to block up testing if wasn’t positive. Felt well again and then Tuesday woke up as bad as was Friday. Nobody who had a sniffle should make that call to the GP
@Marie Broomfield: No sorry I won’t have a bit more cop on. I have a family member showing more than 1 symptom since Friday a wks go. Didn’t want to ring the GP in case they took up time for someone who needed it. Felt better then woke up Tuesday as bad. Took all day Wednesday to get through to the GP and still waiting for a date for test. So I’d say you and the wasters need to COP on.?
@Mary Walshe: No as I said just because it’s free dosent mean you take it. If a shop was giving out free stuff and it was stuff you didn’t need would you take it because it was free?
@Olivia Smith: you don’t seem to understand that it is the doctor who refers people for the test. know you must be worried but so are alot of other people. if you;re family member has it, they have it, a test won’t change that. ring for an ambulance if you feel they are not doing well. I and my family are waiting for that call too, it’s been 4 days and we are mostly starting to feel better. i tried to cancel the test, not wanting to waste time or resources but couldn’t. Doc said it was important for other people that we get tested. Everyone is in the same boat! let’s try not to overturn it.
@Olivia Smith: Not wanting to “block up” testing is ridiculous.
@Marie Broomfield: Are you thick? I’m saying people can’t get through to GPs because of idiots taking up all their time talking to someone with a runny nose. So this makes it harder to get tested and brings testing times longer
@Darren Sheridan: Really? I think that’s a responsible way to think,
@Olivia Smith: The last guidance is anyone with symptoms should be tested if the doctor confirms they fit, so we can find the cases and trace them, and understand the spread. It’s up to a doctor to triage and determine if the sniffle is relevant. You making people feel bad for asking to be assessed doesn’t support the current action plan. An ignored sniffle could mean contacts may not be traced, contacts that could include one of the high risk individuals, or someone who gets the severe version. Let’s let them do their job as they need to, as they have been advised to by those better educated than most of us on how to deal with this, and put up with our wait. Anyone with severe issues can ring for further help, for an ambulance, etc.
@Olivia Smith: man you’re a nasty piece of work..you’re step on your granny to save yourself. I.hope they lose your number.
@Olivia Smith: A nice concerned person? With those words you’re disgusting.
@Olivia Smith: needs to be a bit more cop on in your household. Waiting 5 days before trying to get a test because they didn’t feel too bad is just an “I’m fine so that’s all that matters” attitude.
They will run out of tests quicker than they will run out of money to pay Ms. Doherty and her co workers their 2k per week while the rest of us now have to survive on 200 quid a week.
@Joe Davis: is it all down to
Money with you get a grip on yourself
@Joe Davis: So are you saying that everyone should receive 2k throughout this pandemic? Handy way to bankrupt a country. Glad you’re not in charge!
@Mike Daly: Well, it’s not “all” down to money but money is extremely extremely important in every aspect of the current crisis.
@Mike Daly: it’s just annoying that after working for 30 years solid and paying some amount of tax that its 200 a week and thats that. If you think its fair that no politican or majority in the public sector will not be down a penny well fair enough. I just don’t see any fairness in that.
@FartyTowels: why am I a dope.
@Joe Davis: If they don’t get paid the bucks nobody would want to be in politics and if you have no government you basically have no country. There is only something like 52 TD’s in comparison to millions of civilians. What do you expect? Your full salary every week. Don’t be silly now
@Joe Davis: always the tool!
@Joe Davis: Sure why not give the entire population their full salary while we’re at it! Country would be bankrupt in a week. It might not be much but it’s a hell of a lot more than you get in other countries. To be fair I can’t really fault the Government in how they have handled this whole situation.
@Joe Davis: Sure we might aswell pay the entire population their full salary while we’re at it! Country would be bankrupt in a week. It may not be much but it’s a hell of a lot more than you get in other countries. To be fair I can’t fault the Government in their response to this situation so far.
Will you run out of ventilators though Minister and will it be a case of doctors having to decide who does because of lack of ventilators?
@Block a Tron: and general PPE like masks and aprons will be in short supply globally, they are normally manufactured in china the country that brings you most things these days including the current virus.
@Block a Tron: my pharmacy has run out of Panadol. Many things will be in short supply.
@Block a Tron: Well if people stayed home like their being told to and adhere to social distancing then we might not run out of the essentials that people need to help them survive. Just stay away from public areas and do as we’re being asked. It’s for our own good.
@Gerkygirl: *they’re
@Block a Tron: They might just have to so let’s do our bit not to put them in that position!
@Chin Feeyin: Panadol can be got in most shops, I’m sure there is plenty of it around. These stories causes pains and results in more panic buying.
@Block a Tron: every country will run out of ventilators.
Just stay home people!!!
Failed to prepare even though they knew about the virus in December.
@FartyTowels: accurate.
My Aunt’s house partner is waiting since last Saturday for a test and she’s in her 70’s , living in Dublin
@Gigi Power: House partner????? Is that what they call it these days.?
@Cian: they are retired nuns. Thanks
@Cian: what business is it of yours? Twit
8 days and counting for a test
@miju irl: In all fairness, if you are still here after 8 days and have the energy to post comments here, the chances are you actually don’t need the test at all whether you have the virus or not. Simply self isolate for 14 days and until you are 100% and leave the test to those who really need it.
@Luke Windak: people need it to do community tracing. But sure.
@Luke Windak: up until yesterday I was severely out of breath going up stairs.
With GPs not seeing people with respiratory symptoms it’s near impossible to get prescription. Luckily Leya health virtual GP sorted me yesterday with strong steroids and an inhaler to make it alot easier to breath.
But please do continue assuming you know enough to post a smart arsed comment about testing delays.
@Luke Windak: I’ve seen people suffering with it post daily vlogs. Tom Hanks tweeted about playing card games with his wife. What makes you think it would prevent someone from posting a comment?
@Luke Windak: Thanks Luke. Where did you get your medical degree again?
@miju irl: Take no notice of Luke, they’l always be the odd clown.
@Dermot Foley: Not if they were self isolating as soon as they got cold symptoms as per HSE guidance
@miju irl: sorry to hear that and it’s great u r feeling better now I wasn’t trying to come across as a pr*ck. Was only saying that if u r already feeling better and were self isolating since the start, getting tested now won’t really change much.
Having said all that, waiting 5 days is unacceptable as most people will either get better on their own or end up in hospital by that stage
It’s not good at all to be waiting 5 dates for a date not a mind a test. People are now simply requesting a referrals froms GP knowing it will be a week minimum until they tested so if they don’t have it now it will piece of know knowing a test is booked for future. It’s not good enough..
@Brian: unless you have serious symptoms does it really matter if you are tested straight away? If you have symptoms you are supposed to be self isolating anyway. If your symptoms becoming worrying while waiting for your test you can call 999
@Brian: a GP isn’t going to refer someone unless they fall into the category
@Sam Harms: the problem with the delay in testing isn’t with the person themselves, it’s the contact tracing. Myself and partner are waiting on tests since Monday, in the week to 10 days previous we visited family in Cork, had both been on separate nights out with friends, she had been to work and we both had been to several supermarkets.
That’s over a hundred people (if not more) we’ve been in contact with. Already all those people have been mixing as normal, or a limited amount with social distancing. Contact tracing only works if tests are carried out quickly. Otherwise they might as well not bother testing people and put the effort into hospitals and a complete lockdown nationwide
@Sam Harms: 80% of cases are mild, they need to be identified, quarantined, and contacts traced and isolated.
Diagnosing only severe cases, at hospital, was the approach the UK proposed but that was abandoned after scientists at Imperial College London pointed out it would cause ~250,000 deaths.
@Sam Harms: yes it matters because you could have been in contact with someone and they should know as soon as possible meanwhile you have self isolated but your contacts have not therefore possibly infecting more people
Men are dying worldwide much more than woman “Italian health authorities last week reported that among 13,882 cases of COVID-19 and 803 deaths between Feb. 21 and Mar. 12, men accounted for 58% of all cases and 72% of deaths. For woman findings strongly suggest that there’s something about estrogen that protects against the ravages of deadly coronaviruses” https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2020-03-21/why-is-the-coronavirus-more-deadly-for-men-than-for-women
@GO GREEN: normally female hormones scourge them for life, in this instance perhaps we get a slight advantage
@Emer Caffrey: Yes, the facts are clear for whatever reason, woman have a better chance of surviving this virus.
@GO GREEN: all deaths in under 40s in Italy have been men.
@GO GREEN: If it’s estrogen protecting women then the numbers for postmenopausal, but not elderly,female victims would also be higher, surely?
I wonder have they had any evidence yet of this?
@AA Brady: Makes sense, clearly scientists do not know the reason why more men are dying of this virus.
WHEN DID THAT EVER TELL THE TRUTH, WOULDN’T BELIEVE A WORD OUT OF HER MOUTH
@Pauline Fedigan: call the doc, I think this one has a fever!
@Marie Broomfield: and her Caps Lock is stuck!
Okay so I understand why there is a delay in doing tests but why the massive delay in giving out the test results? I was tested last Tuesday and have still heard nothing back. It’s a little bit concerning that our health service is currently at probably the least busiest they have been in decades and they still cant get it together. What are they going to do when it actually gets busy.
@sally: Health service at their least busiest???? Right!
Are the streets being sprayed like in other countries?
Not even a hint of when Monaghan might get a testing centre. It’s a complete farce. Italy told us it was coming and we didn’t listen. Mental stuff.
I’m a doctor looking after cancer patients. I took ill last Thursday at work fever cough loss of taste and smell. Contacted HSE and went into self isolation. Still waiting to be tested. Nobody has contacted me
@Aktham Sharif: Get well soon!
If you have symptoms or suspect you have the virus, call HSE and they can get you tested as a priority.
In a perfect world we would test everyone, isolate the virus and it would be gone, but that’s not possible, so please don’t panic buy, horde masks or take tests for the craic, for the moment the focus is on finding the virus and isolating it and that means prioritizing people with symptoms first.
Be mindful of our limited resources and capacity. Don’t take or use anything you don’t need. Ask yourself, is it important I take up this medical facility and professionals time when we are over capacity? Sometimes the answer will be yes, but it doesn’t hurt to ask the question.
Check in on old and vulnerable.
I’m off to the bunker lads. Stay safe and I’ll see some of ye post apocalypse.
Yes everyone should be tested, but with a plan in place. If no symptoms register by text with name DOB and eircode. The system then process applications by alabethical or by age. The person sent a text with an appointment for their local test centre but bring photo ID. No ID no test.
have your say