Letters to the Editor: Emissions targets should be based on up-to-date IPCC reports
A reader says the previous government's emissions reduction strategy was based on a 2018 report which has since been superseded. Picture: Rui Vieira/PA
I was encouraged to see the programme for government has a commitment to follow the guidelines from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on biogenic methane when setting our targets for emissions. However, I regret to have to point out that the last government’s Strategy for Emissions Reduction 2024, produced by Eamon Ryan’s department, did not follow the IPCC guidelines available at that time.
By mistake or by design, they claimed the targets were based on an IPCC 2023 document when they were in fact quoting from a 2018 document which had been superseded by much more comprehensive information in IPCC reports from 2022.
The 2022 reports call for the elimination or dramatic reduction of emissions from most sectors by 2050 but recognise that emissions from agriculture, aviation, and parts of industry will reduce much more slowly. The IPCC guidelines on nitrous oxide emissions up to 2050 also show a very gradual reduction and should also be followed.
Very similar recommendations on emissions from all sectors were also published by the EU in February 2024.
When combined with the IPCC 2022 reports and the IPCC Synthesis Report (2023) they provide the basis for a fair, equitable and effective policy on all emissions from Ireland and the EU.
The Irish Government should insist that the EU targets set for Irish emissions be based on these reports and they should also use them for setting the targets for agriculture and other sectors in Ireland.
This should also greatly reduce the very divisive tensions between various sectors of the community in Ireland and in the EU for next 25 years at least.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, unlike the majority of craven or fearful US politicians and their overly polite EU counterparts, called it as it is and will now suffer the consequences.
Donald Trump indeed lives in a bubble of disinformation, served by deluded sycophants and manipulated by big tech oligarchs with nefarious motives. Add to that Trump’s admiration for autocrats and his bowing to ICC fugitives Putin and Netanyahu, it is obvious that the rules-based approach to international law is on life support.
While China watches for the fallout, an impotent EU stands gawping and is reduced to issuing ineffective rhetoric.
One can only hope that as the impact of the dismantling of their government takes effect, the US population realises the grave error they have made in electing a rogue president and does something about it.
Since the Trump initiative on peace in Ukraine, Europe and Britain seem to want to continue this war by supplying more weapons there and even putting troops on the ground in Ukraine. There is even some comment in the Irish press that Ireland’s aid to Ukraine should be in the form of weapons and maybe join this war mongering cavalcade.
Britain and Russia have mutual distrust of one another for many reasons. Boris Johnson is reported to have scuppered possible peace talks in 2022 in favour of continuing the war. It might also be no harm to add a bit of historical perspective on Ukraine before going any further. Their history is full of many attempts to gain independence.
The last great effort was to join with Hitler in his fascist campaign to exterminate Russia and the Jews. The mass Jewish grave at Babi Yar near Kyiv is testament to the atrocities of that time.
This fascist campaign was led by Stefan Bandera who has a national day of commemoration dedicated to him in Ukraine on January 1.
We should welcome any peace talks on Ukraine and stay far away from those who seek to prolong this conflict for whatever reasons.
It’s time to stop trying to reclaim Airbnb lettings as a solution to Ireland’s housing crisis. Many Airbnb hosts, especially in rural areas would not dream of changing over to long-term letting for a number of reasons: They don’t want to let year-round, long term, especially if their accomodation is part of their own property, they do not feel the Government offers adequate protection for damage to their property from tenants or from tenants defaulting on rent.
They would rather simply not let at all. How does that help anyone? Certainly not rural tourism in areas where there is a shortage of hotel availability. That would have a devastating effect on the already struggling hospitality sector.
Rather than clamping down on short-term lets, would it not be better to focus on making long-term letting a more attractive proposition by better protection and less punitive taxation, by constructing more houses, and by encouraging people to do up the very many houses standing empty.
What struck home forcibly while reading the report on the latest exchanges between Government politicians on the housing crisis — ‘Paschal Donohoe refuses to back boom-era tax relief ’ (Irish Examiner, February 18) — is the steely determination of the leaders of Fianna Fáil to continue with the disastrous policy of leaving provision of vital social goods in the hands of those who seek happiness in the mere possession of money.
People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may find it harder to focus, complete tasks, regulate emotions, be on time, and control impulsive behaviour than those without it. It’s incredulous to hear that some health professionals aren’t believers in ADHD.
It really annoys me when I see children and adults struggling in the health system with this mental disorder. Many lives are blighted by undiagnosed and untreated ADHD.
This often leads to chronic underachievement at school, in the workplace, in relationships, and to generally terrible decision-making in every aspect of one’s life. Self-medication often leads to addiction issues.
Those with ADHD are vastly over-represented in the prison population. Suicide rates are appallingly high among men and women with ADHD. These are overwhelmingly the kind of people who will wait for ever for diagnosis and are unlikely to have money to spare for a consultation at a private clinic. This is an unfolding tragedy.
Sadly waiting lists for assessments have also grown. About 5% of children in Ireland have ADHD and this amounts to 60,000 children and young people. For some with this neurodevelopmental disorder, accessing medication to treat it is still in the luck of the draw.
I urge the government to do more in providing education on this subject as well as investing in ADHD services so as to expedite the treatment of this most challenging disorder.
Ireland Reads is a Government initiative to celebrate the joy of reading.
It’s funded by Healthy Ireland and supported by public libraries and various organisations that promote reading and literacy.
Saturday, February 22, has been designated as ‘Ireland Reads’ day when people are urged to get lost in a good book. It doesn’t matter where you read or how well you read as long as you read.
As a keen reader, I’ll spend some time reading on Saturday and probably purchase a newly released novel to add to my collection. Book shops have an eclectic supply of books to suit all tastes.
What better way to introduce a child to reading than a gift of an age-appropriate book?
There is also an excellent public library service throughout the country with books to suit all tastes.
Membership of the local library, which is free, introduces the recipient to a lifelong love of reading.
Between the covers of a book, readers of all ages are exposed to adventure, excitement, anticipation, and knowledge. Regular reading stirs the imagination, arouses curiosity and inspires creativity.
With a book in your hands, you’re in good company.
Indeed, the irrepressible Groucho Marx, master of quick wit and caustic quip, said: “After a dog, a book is a man’s best friend.”
Groucho, who with Chico, Harpo, Gummo, and Zeppo made up the hilarious Marx Brothers, overcame his lack of formal education by becoming well-read.
Although Groucho once famously said “I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member”, he regularly borrowed books from his local library, although he was unrecognisable without his trademark greasepaint moustache.
